Goa: People from all walks of life including bureaucrats, political leaders and other well-known personalities paid homage to the great, courageous, God-fearing pastor, as the mortal remains of Goa and Daaman Archbishop Emeritus Raul Nicolau Gonsalves were brought to Archbishops House, Panjim and later on at Se Catedral, where his mortal remains were carried for the funeral service.
The mortal remains were solemnly carried to the altar after the public paid homage to the Archbishop Emeritus. The liturgy on the occasion was based on the priesthood moto of Archbishop Raul Gonsalves “not to be served, but to serve”.
In his homily, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao said, We as humans want to live long, be happy, to be great. The question is how should we fulfill these desires? It should be done by following the will of God and not by following our own will. When two of Jesus’ disciples were seeking high positions in His Kingdom, Jesus instructs them that whoever amongst you wants to be first has to humble himself and whoever wants to be great has to be a servant.
Speaking about Archbishop Raul Gonsalves, Archbishop Filipe Neri expressed that Bishop Raul tried to live this style of servant leadership in his Life. “He was a man of God, rooted in Christ with a filial devotion to Our Lady. He had taken charge in uncertain times, on the other hand, he also had a challenge to put into practice the new orientation of the Church which came with the Second Vatican Council. He faced all challenges with courage and established various councils and bodies of the church for its renewal and stability. He was a Loving and a Courageous person, ever willing to Carry the Cross of Christ.”
At the end of the Eucharist, various condolence messages were read, to name a few, from the Dicastry of evangelisation, Rome, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, CBCI President.
Some of the speakers who gave their condolence messages were Archbishop of Delhi and Secretary General of CCBI, Most Rev. Anil Couto, Fr. Alfred Vas, on behalf of priests, Sr. Mussella, on behalf of the religious, Mrs Debbie, on behalf of the laity, brother of Archbishop Raul, Gamberto Gonsalves thanked the Archbishop, organisers and everyone for praying for his brother and for organising the service well.
Finally, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao expressed his condolences and solidarity to the family members of Archbishop Raul and thanked them for the precious gift of Archbishop Raul to the Archdiocese. He thanked Archbishop Anil Couto, bishop emeritus, Alex Dias, Bishop of Belgaum and Apostolic administrator of Karwar, Most Rev. Derrick Fernandes, Auxilliary Bishop of Ranchi, Most Rev. Theodore Mascarenhas, Sindudhurg Bishop Alwyn Barretto, Monseignor Simon Teles, Fr. Neil Santos, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bombay, who represented Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of CBCI.
He thanked all those who accompanied the Archbishop in his last days. He also thanked the ASI, civil authorities, police, various committees and everybody who helped in the smooth functioning of the funeral service.
After the Eucharist, the mortal remains were carried to the tomb dedicated to bishops in the Se Catedral itself, and laid to rest there.
There are such tombs in different old Churches of Goa, but Se cathedral is especially marked for the Archbishop of Goa and Daman as it is the seat of the Archbishop of Goa and the Mother Church of the Archdiocese.