The Final Journey of Rev. Fr Anthony Peter, a Priest of the Diocese of Shimoga
Shivamogga, July 26, 2024: Funeral ceremony of Rev. Fr Anthony Peter, Parish Priest of St. Theresa of Child Jesus Church, Shikaripura, held on July 26 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga.
Rev. Fr Anthony Peter met with a road accident on Tuesday, July 23rd, at Chinnikatte on the way to his parish, Shikaripura. He was traveling from Shivamogga. He died on the spot.
His mortal remains were brought to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga, at 7 a.m. for public homage. Rev. Fr. Franklin D’Souza, Diocesan Youth Director, received the body and led the prayer. Rev. Fr. Roshan Pinto, Director of Sannidhi; Rev. Fr. Pius D’Souza, Director of SMSSS-CChaitanya; Rev. Fr. Arun Venil D’Silva, Procurator of the Diocese; and Fr. Nelson D’Souza, HM of Loyola English High School, were present.
At 8 a.m., Diocesan Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao SJ blessed the body.
The Holy Eucharist began at 10 a.m. Bishop Francis Serrao SJ concelebrated the Holy Eucharist with Bishop Duming Dias of the Diocese of Karwar, Bishop Joseph Arumachadath of the Diocese of Bhadravati, Msgr. Joseph Felix Noronha, Vicar General of the Diocese of Shimoga, Rev. Fr. Stephen Maxi Albuquerque, Chancellor of the Diocese of Shimoga, and a large number of priests from all around Karnataka.
Bishop Duming Dias of the Karwar Diocese gave the introduction. Rev. Fr. Veeresh Vincent Moras, parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Tirthahalli, preached a heart-touching sermon. He based his homily on Luke 24:1–12: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”. He connected it to the life of Fr. Anthony Peter and spoke on the hope that we have in the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
At the end of the Holy Eucharist, Rev. Fr. Steven D’Sa gave the eulogy. Mr Manuel, brother of Rev. Fr. Anthony Peter, spoke on behalf of the family. He thanked Bishop Francis Serrao SJ, priests and religious, as well as the faithful gathered for the funeral ceremony.
Bishop Francis Serrao, SJ, spoke on behalf of the diocese. He said that we have lost a good and dedicated priest. He stands tall for his love for the poor and the downtrodden, above all his love for the church.
Rev. Fr. Biju, parish priest of Infant Jesus Church, Sharavathinagar, proposed the vote of thanks. Rev. Fr. Alphonse Nelson D’Souza delivered the program.
Funeral rites were done by Bishop Francis Serrao SJ. Bishop Duming Dias, and a large number of priests, religious, and faithful witnessed his burial in the priests cemetery at the Cathedral Campus.
Rev. Fr Anthony Peter was born on January 7, 2024, and was ordained on May 4, 2004. He served as Assistant Parish Priest of Our Lady of Assumption Church, Hiriyur, and St. Thomas Church, Davanagere. Then he did his higher studies and got his doctorate in liturgy at Urbaniana University in Rome. He served as parish priest of St. Anthony’s Shrine, Karehalli, from 2017 to 2023. He also served at Our Lady of Health, Minor Basilica of Harihar. At present, he is the parish priest of St. Theresa of Child Jesus Church, Shikaripura. In him, the Diocese of Shimoga lost a good pastor.
Please click the link for the funeral ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/live/TxEv1bnHw_0?si=CBgcLsKQEdYh1gYS
