From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 18: The parish priest of Our Lady of Vailankanni Church at Yelahanka New Town died of a massive heart attack in Bengaluru on Monday.

The funeral service of the 64-year-old priest, who had served the Archdiocese of Bangalore for 36 years in different parishes, will be held on August 19, Wednesday, at the Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Road, at 10.30 am.

The mortal remains of Fr Ignatius Joseph will be later shifted to St Ignatius Church, Begur, for the funeral mass and burial rites at 3 pm.

Fr Ignatius Thomas, who was born on March 18, 1951, at Begur in Bengaluru, was the ninth child among the 10 children born to Ignasappa and Anthonamma. After his school studies, he joined the Archdiocese of Bangalore and did his priestly studies at St Mary’s Seminary, Bangalore, St Mary’s Seminary, Mysore and at St John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad.

He was ordained a priest on May 24, 1979 at Begur.

Fr Ignatius Joseph was a simple priest who had a great zeal to spread the good news. Through his hard work he gave witness to Catholics and non-Catholics. He died as he lived in his faith. He helped many students to pursue their studies.

“Please pray for the repose of his soul. May the good Lord grant him eternal rest, and give the necessary graces to his dear ones and to all of us in the Archdiocese to accept this great loss,’’ said Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras in a condolence message.

“Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord; and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace,’’ said the Archbishop.

The Archbishop has asked all the priests of the Archdiocese of Bangalore to offer three masses for the repose of the soul of Fr Ignatius Joseph.