The Archdiocese of Calcutta in India bade its last farewell to Father John Mohandas, its judicial vicar who had played a “key role” in the administration, governance, and pastoral advancement of the archdiocese.
The 75-year-old priest died of cerebral hemorrhage at a Kolkata hospital on June 21. He was laid to rest at St John’s Cemetery in Sealdah following a funeral Mass at the Christ the King Church.
Only 50 people were allowed at the funeral due to health restrictions but hundreds watched the ceremony online.
Father Gomes, vicar general of the archdiocese, described the late priest as an outstanding pastor who was “sociable and incredibly generous with his time, expertise and resource for the service of the Church.”
Father Mohandas was also the treasurer of the Canon Law Society of India.
Father Gomes said that as a canon lawyer, Father Mohandas was quick to act on cases. “He was swift to reply on any issues of the people.”
Father Mohandas was born in 1948 in Kerala state in South India. He was ordained priest in 1978.
Angelina Mantosh Jasnani, president of the Catholic Association of Bengal, said: “It is heartbreaking news for me because he was my favorite priest. I knew him from childhood."
The priest was the spiritual advisor of the association.
"Whenever we called him, he responded promptly and offered good advice," said Jasnani.
Jesuit priest Irudaya Jothi said he was “guided by him when I started my pastoral year after my ordination.”
He said Father Mohandas was “a jack of all trades, a loyal son of the Church who kept up the rubrics of the liturgy, sacraments of the Church intact and promoted them ardently.” - Frank Krishner/RVA News
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
