Fr Francis Rodrigues
Mangalore, May 1: Fr Joseph M Menezes, mostly known as Fr Jos Menez, a priest of the Diocese of Mangalore left for the eternal abode on Thursday May 1 because of old age. He was 94.
He was born on September 25, 1919, hailing from Bondel parish and from a family with many religious vocations. After his priestly formation at St Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore he was ordained priest of the Diocese of Mangalore on April 7, 1947 and was a priest for last 67 years. Till now he was the senior most priest of the undivided diocese of Mangalore.
He was assistant pastor at Rosario Cathedral and Agrar parishes and served the Diocese of Mangalore as the parish priest of Permannur, Kanajar and Attur parishes as well as the director of Mount Rosary Sanatorium Alangar. After his retirement he rendered spiritual services at Milagres-Mangalore, Urva parishes and Stella Maris Convent. After that he was residing at Vianney Home, Kankanady, the home for the retired priests.
He was a priest with simplicity, in-depth spirituality and approachability. He was very enthusiastic in spiritual ministry, especially the confessional ministry and other sacramental ministry. He always did the necessary good things in the places of service and lived peacefully with the people with pastoral devotion and experience.
His funeral rites will be held together with Mass at 4 pm on Friday May 2 at St Vincent Ferrer Church, Valencia and his mortal remains will be interred at Valencia priests cemetery. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore and Msgr Denis Prabhu, the vicar general have expressed sorrow at the demise of the senior priest.