Yesterday at the First Friday evening mass, I listened to Fr Anand,s homily. I thought it was some anecdote or story that always fills a preacher’s sermon- but suddenly midway I got shaken up when I realized that it was the true happening of Fr Anand’s own brother, Gonzaga. After meeting Fr Anand when the mass was over, along with a crowd of parishioners trying to share his grief, I was totally shocked and saddened on hearing of Gonzi’s sudden passing away and seeing his lovely smiling happy pictures on the table. Listening to Fr Anand and reading the blogsite I seem to know Gonzi intimately (hence I take the liberty of addressing him as Gonzi), and feel that I have missed meeting a great person with so many talents and qualities, and most of all , a person who gave to others and helped others in so many ways. He had so many scholarly and technical achievements, yet finally settled in a field of sociology, touching the lives of others- a social worker in the true sense.
Fr Anand tells of his father passing away when he himself was just 10 years and I can see Gonzi shouldering the additional responsibility – he was so close to his brothers and mother and their children and striving to help the family and acting as a bonding agent throughout, visiting regularly, ringing Mother daily- a model brother and a model son. The more I read the blogsite the more I feel that I missed something and someone.
It also saddens us to see the grief of Fr Anand and his mother ( to whom the news had to be broken only a day later after conditioning her, while she was preparing Gonzi’s favourite dishes for his arrival) - heart rending.
To those who met him and shared with him, it is their good fortune. For us who did not meet him, his ideals will serve as a guide. May his soul RIP and we pray for God to give his mother and family the strength to be able to bear this great loss.
Fr Anand heads a vibrant parish here in Porvorim, Goa, and all of us parishioners are saddened by Gonzi’s sudden death and to see Fr Anand in such grief. We wish to share this grief if we can lighten his. I was once told that all of us are God’s children and He gives us to our parents and families on “Loan”. But when He wants them dearly, He takes them back. We have to be thankful for His gift of the loan of Gonzi to us for 45 years.
Fondly remembered by
John and Meena DeSilva,
Holy Family Chursh Parish,
Porvorim, Goa.
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