Sastan Parish Priest Fr Vincent Martis (61) Dies in Road Accident
by Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
Daijiworld Media Network
Latest Updates:
Mangalore, Feb 3: According to latest reports, mortal remains of Fr Vincent Martis will arrive in Mangalore through jet airways at 11.00 am.
Fr William Menezes, public relations officer of Mangalore diocese said that the mass for the repose of departed’s soul will be held at Milagres Church on Friday February 5 at 9.00 am. His body will then be taken to Sastan parish of Udupi district where he was serving as a parish priest.
Mass will be held at 4.00 pm followed by final rites and burial at St Antony’s Church, Sastan.
Further, the condition of two of his family members who accompanied him on Rajasthan travel is critical.
Jaipur - Feb 2: In tragic road accident near Mount Abu in Rajasthan, Fr. Vincent Martis (61), the parish priest of St. Antony’s Parish, Sasthan passed away on Tuesday, 2nd February 2010 at around 12.30 pm. He was on his way to Rajasthan to meet his sister, Sr. Laura and was travelling along with his another sister, Bendicta Tauro from Mumbai and nephews, Rajesh and Parkas and nieces Priya and Reshma from Belman. The tragedy struck the unsuspecting travellers at the Mount Abu Cross Road at around 12.30 pm. It is believed that heavy fog might have caused the accident. According to a report, Fr. Vincent who was sitting in the front seat succumbed on the spot and other occupants sustained injuries. As soon as Alphonse Alva of Moodubelle, the nephew of Fr. Vincent received the tragic news, he informed the Bishop of Mangalore by 3 pm. Alphonse Alva’s mother, Theresa Alva (wife of late Robert Alva) is one of the elder sisters of Fr. Vincent.
According to the latest report, the body of Fr. Vincent and the injured have been shifted to a hospital at Ahmadabad in Gujarat. The body of Fr. Vincent is expected to reach Mumbai airport by morning of Wednesday, 3rd February 2010, and from there will be brought to Mangalore by the same evening.
According to Henry Martis, brother of late Fr. Vincent, Rajesh, Prakash and Priya, sons and daughter of late Dr. E.B. Martis (another brother of Fr. Vincent) along with Reshma (daughter of Henry Martis) had started from Belman in their Scorpio, driven by Rajesh on Sunday, 31st January 2010. They picked up Fr. Vincent at Sasthan and proceeded to Mumbai and reached early morning on Monday, 1st February 2010. Later, along with the sister of Fr. Vincent from Mumbai, Benedicta Tauro they proceeded to Rajasthan halting in a Convent in Gujarat. They were to meet Fr. Vincent’s sister in Rajasthan, Sr. Laura whose birth day was on 1st February 2010.
Fr. Vincent Martis was born on 22nd January 1949 at Belman. He was the last among 7 sons and 3 daughters of late Marcel and Maria Martis. After completing SSLC, Fr. Vincent joined St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore and was ordained on 25th October 1974.
Soon after ordination, the first assignment of Fr. Vincent was as the assistant parish priest of Moodubelle. Later, he was appointed as the parish priest of Nakre where he served for 7 years. Other parishes where Fr. Vincent served include Mukka (7 years), Kirem (7 years), Thrasi (7 years) and finally, since 9 years as the parish priest of Sasthan. While he was the parish priest of Kirem, Fr. Vincent built a new church at Mundkur which was later raised as an independent parish. At Sasthan, Fr. Vincent established an English Medium School and also built a Community Hall.
While one of the sisters of Fr. Vincent has been serving in a religious congregation in Rajasthan, an elder brother of his, Fr. Francis Martis who was a missionary in the Varanasi Diocese had passed away earlier. Fr. Vincent is survived by one brother, Henry Martis who resides at Belman and three sisters.