By Richard D'Souza

Udupi, Nov 20: The 93rd death anniversary of Venerable Fr Agnel D’Souza was observed at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur near here on Friday, November 20.

The solemn Eucharistic Mass was concelebrated by the rector of Milagres Cathedral and dean of Kallianpur deanery Fr Valerian Mendonca along with Fr Henry D’Souza of Pilar Fathers, Salethur, Fr Francis Cornelio parish priest of Thottam Church, Fr Canute Noronha assistant parish priest of Milagres Cathedral, Fr Jossy Mascarenhas vocational director of Pilar Fathers Mini Seminary, Fr Brian Sequiera and other Pilar Fathers Kallianpur.

In his beautiful homily by Fr Valerian Mendonca pointed out about the Venerable Fr Agnel life and his mission. He said Fr Agnel is a light of hope in the time of the corona pandemic in particular. He was very simple in his life and gave good to the faithful people through his beautiful sermon, confessions and so on. Characteristically, he grew up manifesting qualities of gentleness, of love and purity, humility and obedience combined with a strong sense of self-discipline.

Further, Fr Valerian said that Venerable Fr Agnel had set his sights high in the service of God and aimed at cultivating assiduously all the priestly virtues and was also an impressive preacher not because of any flourish of rhetoric but because every word he spoke from the pulpit came out from the depths of his heart.

At the end of the mass, Fr Jossy Mascarenhas gave gratitude to all concerned like Rector, priests, religious sisters, choir, well-wishers and faithful of Fr Agnel and others were part of celebrations. Fr Henry D’Souza at the end read out the novena prayers of Fr Agnel.

Due to corona pandemic, there was no get together programme held after the Mass. But lunch was served for all participants at the Milagres Cathedral Hall.