Daijiworld News Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Aug 25: Death is a sign of hope, said Fr Eugene Lobo, the principal and the main celebrant of the day, during the Mass to pray for the departed soul of Br Loy Fernandes. The Mass was offered at St Aloysius College Chapel on Thursday, Aug 24.

Fr Richie Rego gave an account of Br Loy's death - the last few hours and the agonizing search for his body.

Many members of the staff and students came together to pray for the departed soul of Br Loy, and extend their sympathies to bereaved, at SAC Chapel.

Earlier on Aug 23, the family of the late Br Loy arranged a Holy Mass at the Jeppu Seminary Church.

Fr Francis Serrao, Rector of St Aloysius College was the main celebrant. In his homily, Fr Stany D'Souza, superior, Asha Kiran highlighted the aspects of Loy's death - what it means, positively. Loy was a very naughty boy, a livewire. And sitting next to God, he would not be able to sit quietly. He would shove Jesus, and say, "see Jesus, this is my mother, this is my father, these are my brothers,” Hence, we need to be positive about death, and not be sullen, Fr D'Souza said.

Fr Eugene Lobo, Fr Denzil Lobo, Fr Richie Rego, Fr A S Rodrigues, Fr Santosh Kamath, Fr Denis Rasquinha and Fr Francis Almeida were present.

The church was packed to capacity, with the Jeppu parishioners, who missed a chance to pay their last respects to Br Loy in Chennai.

The mass was followed by a prayer meeting in the Parish Hall. Wilfy Rebimbus, noted singer and Loy's neighbour, paid rich tributes to Br Loy and his spirit. Fr Francis Almeida gave a brief discription of the events in Chennai - loss of livewire Loy and finding his lifeless body.

Members of Sahodaya, the outreach programme of St Aloysius College had also arranged for a meeting to condole the death of its active member Br Loy. Director of Sahodaya Charles Furtado spoke on the occasion.