Mangaluru: The significant contributors to the society will always be reminisced and be immortal in the hearts of people, said Bishop Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha.
He presided over the 25th death anniversary of former Mangalore Bishop Dr Basil Salvador D’Souza here at Our Lady of Rosary Cathedral, Mangaluru on Thursday, September 9.
Bishop Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha said that Bishop Dr Basil D’Souza ably led Mangaluru Diocese that comprised the current Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod districts as a Bishop from 1965 – 1996 for 31 long years. Several new churches, educational institutions, social and medical service organisations opened under his leadership and currently, we are reaping the fruits of his work, he added.
At the remembrance prayer, Retired Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza gave the discourse. He said that following the decision of the Second Vatican Council, the credit of bringing the local language into religious practice was first initiated in India at Mangaluru and the credit goes to late Bishop Basil. He made a tremendous contribution to this by translating the new testament, prayers and scripture readings into Konkani, he added.
After Holy Mass, a prayer was held at the grave of Late Basil D’Souza. This was followed by the release of a documentary pertaining to Late Bishop Basil by Canara Communication Centre and Commemorative Works under the editorship of Prof. Stephen Quadros.
Assistance for building houses for poor
The amount that is collected after selling copies of the commemorative book of Late Bishop will be utilised to construct houses for the poor under the diocese, said Prof. Quadros. He also symbolically handed over a cheque donating the amount to Bishop Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha on the occasion.
