Here are a couple of pictures of the farewell mass celebrated for Fr. Vincent Vaz in the Divyadaan chapel a few hours after his demise last Sunday 19 April, a little before his mortal remains were transferred to Mumbai for burial... 
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
GOODBYE FR. VINCENT...
With a heavy heart we carry the sad news of the sudden passing of our dear Fr. Vincent Vaz. Like a good son of Don Bosco - he died working. He celebrated mass this morning for the inmates of the Nirmala Home and then returned to the community. He was last seen quietly praying his breviary. Br. Sredny took him his regular glass of juice and then left. At lunch time he did not show up and then when he would not respond to the knocks on the door, Fr. Savio and other confreres forced the door open only to find him slumped in the washroom. He had passed away sometime earlier.
After his body had been prepared, a requeim mass was celebrated in the Divyadaan chapel by Fr. Savio the rector of Divyadaan and other priests of the campus. Many religious and parishioners turned up at short notice to bid a fond and tearful farewell to Fr. Vincent who had been confessor, confidante, professor and many other things to all present at the eucharist.
We will miss him - his uprightness and discipline, his pastoral availability and his total dedication to work and study. We are sure he has entered into the eternal peace of the Divine Master whom he so joyously and zealously served in his 74 years of life, 58 years of profession, and 45 years of ordination. May his soul rest in peace.
After his body had been prepared, a requeim mass was celebrated in the Divyadaan chapel by Fr. Savio the rector of Divyadaan and other priests of the campus. Many religious and parishioners turned up at short notice to bid a fond and tearful farewell to Fr. Vincent who had been confessor, confidante, professor and many other things to all present at the eucharist.
We will miss him - his uprightness and discipline, his pastoral availability and his total dedication to work and study. We are sure he has entered into the eternal peace of the Divine Master whom he so joyously and zealously served in his 74 years of life, 58 years of profession, and 45 years of ordination. May his soul rest in peace.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
FACING TERMINAL ILLNESS
The last few days have not been among the best ones I have lived. Two days ago I was called to the bedside of a parishioner - Theresa - who is now in the terminal stages of cancer. She thought she had conquered the big, bad 'C' with chemo and radiation but 'C' returned and is now gradually taking control of her body. Theresa is a fighter and many of us who know her are certain that she is not going without a fight. Yet, it is so sad to see her body wasting away.
She told me that she was not afraid to die - and her voice had deep conviction when she said it soon after she had received the Sacrament of Anointing and the Viaticum. But, she is sad and terrified at leaving behind her young son - Vivek - who is 10 and her doting husband - Valerian. She kept repeating to all of us present - "Take care of my Vivek and my Valerian."
Yesterday she was moved to a hospice for the terminally ill where I am told she is at peace with some top-class palliative care. She is relaxed and peaceful, feeling much better and stronger. But we know it is a matter of time.
Questions keep cropping up - the regular kind that afflicts the human mind when faced with innocent suffering and premature death. "WHY LORD?"
For now there are no answers - we can just live the questions...and in the meantime here is a beautiful poem that was sent to me...Yes, He who walks on water can calm the stormy seas of our life. Amen.
She told me that she was not afraid to die - and her voice had deep conviction when she said it soon after she had received the Sacrament of Anointing and the Viaticum. But, she is sad and terrified at leaving behind her young son - Vivek - who is 10 and her doting husband - Valerian. She kept repeating to all of us present - "Take care of my Vivek and my Valerian."
Yesterday she was moved to a hospice for the terminally ill where I am told she is at peace with some top-class palliative care. She is relaxed and peaceful, feeling much better and stronger. But we know it is a matter of time.
Questions keep cropping up - the regular kind that afflicts the human mind when faced with innocent suffering and premature death. "WHY LORD?"
For now there are no answers - we can just live the questions...and in the meantime here is a beautiful poem that was sent to me...Yes, He who walks on water can calm the stormy seas of our life. Amen.
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