D'Arcy D'Souza
Encyclopedia
Father D'Arcy D'Souza 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.
from the University of Bombay (now Mumbai)
's Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute
before his ordination into the priesthood
. He served as science teacher in St Patrick's High School, Karachi until 1952, when he was appointed Principal of St Bonaventure's High School
, Hyderabad. He then went on to become the second Principal of Saint Patrick's College, Karachi.
From 1972 to 1973 he served as parish priest at St. Jude's Parish
and from 1975 to 1979 as assistant parish priest.
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 October 4, 1996.
He also spoke at the March 15, 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.
in Karachi on December 10, 2009, aged 96.
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.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
Roman Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
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.
Life and career
D'Souza completed a degree in civil engineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from the University of Bombay (now Mumbai)
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
's Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute is a premier regional engineering and technical institute, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, and one of the oldest engineering colleges in Asia.India has 26 states. Founded in 1887, it was previously known as the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute,...
before his ordination into the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. He served as science teacher in St Patrick's High School, Karachi until 1952, when he was appointed Principal of St Bonaventure's High School
St Bonaventure's High School
St Bonaventure's High School is a school located on Foujdari Road in Hyderabad in the Sindh province of Pakistan with another branch in the Qasimabad town. Founded as early as the 1920s, St Bonaventure's is one of the oldest schools in the city...
, Hyderabad. He then went on to become the second Principal of Saint Patrick's College, Karachi.
From 1972 to 1973 he served as parish priest at St. Jude's Parish
St. Jude's Church
St. Jude's Church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, is situated in North Nazimabad in Karachi, Pakistan.-History:In 1951 Gabriel Indrias did a survey of 25 Catholic families living across the Lyari River from the Portiuncula Friary. Fr. Edouald OFM was the first parish priest...
and from 1975 to 1979 as assistant parish priest.
As the Archdiocese's longest serving priest he was selected to give the keynote address at the celebration of the silver jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
of the episcopal ordination of the previous Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
, Simeon Anthony Pereira
Simeon Anthony Pereira
Simeon Anthony Pereira was a former Archbishop of Karachi.He received his religious training at the Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka and was ordained a priest on 24 August 1951...
on October 4, 1996.
He also spoke at the March 15, 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
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
provincial Governor Azim Daudpota
Azim Daudpota
Air Marshal Mohammed Azim Daudpota, commonly known as Azim Daudpota, was a three-star officer in the Pakistan Air Force who went on to briefly serve as Governor of Sindh.-Air force career:...
, Karachi Commissioner Shafique-ur-Rehman Pracha and Sindh Education Minister
Education minister
An education minister is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters.-Country-related articles and lists:Minister of Education may refer to:...
Anita Ghulamali.
Death and funeral
D'Arcy died in Holy Family HospitalHoly Family Hospital
Holy Family Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, was founded in 1948 by the Medical Mission Sisters, a Roman Catholic religious order for women based in Philadelphia, USA. This was at a time when very few health care facilities existed in Pakistan....
in Karachi on December 10, 2009, aged 96.
Archbishop Evarist Pinto
Evarist Pinto
Evarist Pinto is the current Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan.-Education:He received his religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, where he was ordained a priest on 6 January 1968. He also had a doctorate in theology...
was the main celebrant at the funeral mass on 12 December, 2009 at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, is situated on Shahrah-e-Iraq, formerly known as Clarke Street, located near the Empress Market in Karachi, Pakistan....
. 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.