D'Arcy D'Souza
Father D'Arcy D'Souza (4 June 1913 – 10 December 2009, Karachi) was a Pakistani Roman Catholic priest who spent 66 years of his priestly life serving the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, making him at the time of his death, the longest-serving priest in the archdiocese.[1]
Life and career[edit]
D'Souza completed a degree in civil engineering from the University of Bombay (now Mumbai)'s Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute before his ordination into the priesthood in 1943. He was the first Parishioner of St. Lawrence’s Parish to enter the Papal Seminary.[2]
He served as science teacher in St Patrick's High School, Karachi until 1952.[3] Writer and film producer Javed Jabbar credits Father D'Souza with talking his father into allowing him to enroll in the Faculty of Arts at St Patrick's High School, Karachi, rather than in the Commercial course in which he was first enrolled.[4]
In 1952 he was appointed Principal of St Bonaventure's High School, Hyderabad.[3] He then went on to become the second Principal of Saint Patrick's College, Karachi.[5]
From 1972 to 1973 he served as parish priest at St. Jude's Parish and from 1975 to 1979 as assistant parish priest.[6]
As the Archdiocese's longest serving priest he was selected to give the keynote address at the celebration of the silver jubilee of the episcopal ordination of the previous Archbishop, Simeon Anthony Pereira on 4 October 1996.[7]
He also spoke at the 15 March 2000 funeral Mass for Sister Christine Sequeira who died of injuries after she was beaten by robbers who ransacked her convent in Malir, where he described "banditry" as "a lifestyle" in Pakistan. The funeral was attended by Sindh provincial Governor Azim Daudpota, Karachi Commissioner Shafique-ur-Rehman Pracha and Sindh Education Minister Anita Ghulamali.[8]
Death and funeral[edit]
D'Arcy died in Holy Family Hospital in Karachi on 10 December 2009, aged 96.[5]
Archbishop Evarist Pinto was the main celebrant at the funeral mass on 12 December 2009 at St Patrick’s Cathedral. A tribute was given by Fr. Pat McCaffrey S.S.C. who had known D'Souza for the past twenty five years. They first met in January 1984, shortly after he had taken over responsibility for the parish of Matli, D'Souza came to St. Joseph's Parish in Matli to visit.
See also[edit]
Veteran Pakistani Roman Catholic Priests
References[edit]
- ↑ UCANews May 28, 1998
- ↑ Mascarenhas, Oswin (2011). The Origin and Evolution of St Lawrence's Parish, Karachi, Pakistan: The Garden Area with the Settlement of the Christian Community (Kindle Location 1027). Kindle Edition.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Patrician 1951-52
- ↑ "St. Patrick's High School turns 150 years old today". Hindustan Times. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Ucanews.com December 17, 2009".[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Christian Voice, 6 November 2011
- ↑ "Ucanews.com October 24, 1996".
- ↑ "Ucanews.com March 22, 2000".[permanent dead link]
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