Death of Fr Patrick Rodrigues is ‘Nirvana’ – Bishop Aloysius D’Souza

Death of Fr Patrick Rodrigues is ‘Nirvana’ – Bishop Aloysius D’Souza

The death of Fr Patrick Rodrigues is ‘Nirvana’ ( Which means – the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterised by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness. Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, ‘Nirvana’ is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person’s individual desires and suffering go away.) – Bishop Aloysius D’Souza

Mangaluru: People in thousands predominately Priests, nuns, doctors, nurses, students, relatives and friends – young and old, well-wishers, and others paid their last respect to Fr Patrick Rodrigues- Director of Fr Muller Charitable Institutions, during a Holy mass and Condolence ceremony held at the Hospital Chapel on Friday, 24 March 2017 at 9 qam. Quoting Carson McCullers of ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’ where he says “How can the dead be truly dead when they still live in the souls of those who are left behind?”- even though Fr Rodrigues is no more with us, but he is still alive in our heart and soul.

Before I go further, I truly believe Fr Rodrigues is at peace and is united with his dear ones and friends in heavenly bliss. To Fr Patrick Rodrigues I say, “We will all think of you in silence. We often speak your name, now all we have are memories and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake with which we’ll never part. God bless you in his keeping, but we’ll always have you in our hearts and in our memories. You are sadly missed by everyone at Fr Muller Institution, your relatives and friends. While we look at your picture, you seem to smile and say, ‘Don’t be sad but take courage, and love each other for my sake’. We will do that, we promise, Dear Fr.”.

The Holy Mass in memory of Fr Patrick Rodrigues was celebrated by Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese and President of Fr Muller Charitable Institutions – Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, along with Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu – the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangaluru; Fr Richard Coelho – Administrator, FMMCH; Fr Peter Noronha- Former Director of FMCI; Fr Vincent Saldanha- Administrator, FMHMC and H; Fr Roshan Crasta – Administrator, FMH-Thumbay; Fr Ajith Menezes – Asst. Administrator, FMMCH; Fr Sylvester Lobo – Asst. Administrator, FMHMC and H, among many another clergy.

In his homily, Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza said, “We should not be afraid of death because Death is a door opening from one aspect of life to another. Death is a cessation of bodily or physical activity, of physical and organic function, of physical consciousness. Death is a transition from one state of being to another, a change of the form of consciousness to another plane, astral or mental. Death does not end your personality and self-consciousness. It merely opens the door to a higher form of life. Death is only the gateway to a fuller life. Death is not the extinction of personality. It is merely the cessation of an important individuality. It is only a change of form. Life flows on to achieve its conquest of the universe, life flows on till it merges in the Eternal. Death is not the end of life. It is an aspect of life. It is a natural incident in the course of life. It is necessary for your evolution.”

“Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and He follows it with a call to faith: “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:21-24). Similarly, with the death of our beloved Fr Patrick Rodrigues, we should consider it as a Nirvana (Resurrection). In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ”This well-known and oft-quoted passage is quite significant in that this epistle was Paul’s last before his martyrdom in A.D. 67. It is a deeply moving affirmation of his unwavering faith and unyielding love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. “I have fought the good fight” is also significant for believers today because it serves as a stark reminder that the Christian life is a struggle against evil—within ourselves and in the world. Fr Rodrigues as a priest fought a good life serving Jesus Christ and everyone at Fr Muller’s with dedication, commitment and determination” added Bishop.

The Mass was followed by a condolence ceremony at the Chapel, where the mourners had the chance to pay their last respect to their beloved mentor, teacher, philosopher, administrator, director, preacher, guide etc – Late Fr Patrick Rodrigues.

Addressing the gathering Fr Peter Noronha-Former Director of FMCI said, “Even though Fr Patrick was suffering a lot due to many surgeries, chemotherapy’s, numerous tests and so on, but he stayed active by involving in various Fr Muller institution activities like seminars, meetings, etc etc. The newly launched state-of-the-art Fr Muller Convention Centre became his dream come true and was inaugurated in his presence, and the project was his initiative. He was a very familiar figure loved by all, and he greeted them all with a smile and gesture. I was truly blessed to have him as the Assistant Director when I was the Director at FMCI. We will all miss him”.

Dr Sanjeev Rai, Chief of Medical Services, Father Muller Hospital expressing his thoughts on Fr Patrick Rodrigues said, “We were hoping that Fr Rodrigues will be there to grace our convocation ceremony happening very shortly, but God had his own ways to take Fr Patrick into his Kingdom. In spite of his illness, Fr Rodrigues was actively involved in various projects of the hospital and institution, and many of the new structures in the campus are his plans and initiatives, including the mega convention Centre. He was a strong pillar of the institute – very determined, committed, and hard working. He is truly a role model to all of us here at Fr Muller’s”.

Also expressing his feelings on Fr Patrick, Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza said, “When I appointed him as the Director of FMCI, I knew that he would do the job right, and I am not disappointed at all for taking that decision. Looking at his commendable service at St John’s Medical College – Bengaluru as administrator, I had full faith that he would render similar services here at Fr Muller, and I am happy and proud to say that Fr Patrick did, and reached this institution to greater heights. He has touched everyone at Fr Muller through his love and sacrifice. Many of the monuments that still exist in the campus here are his initiatives and ideas. We will all miss him, but Fr Patrick Rodrigues will always remain in our hearts. May his Soul Rest In Peace”.

Fr Richard Coelho – the current Director-in-charge of FMCI also expressed his thoughts and thanked everyone for their love and support showed towards Fr Rodrigues while he was ill, and also for showing up in large numbers to pay respect to His departed soul. Fr Roshan Crasta – Administrator, FMH -Thumbay compered the ceremony. I end this column with the lyrics from the hymn “Nearer, My God, to Thee..”:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

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