Panaji: Fr Nascimento J Mascarenhas, 77, an avid researcher of Church history, died at the priests’ residence at Holy Spirit Church, Margao, on Sunday. A diabetic, he was bedridden for around a month before his death.
Mascarenhas was a researcher, historian and author of over 10 books, and documented priests from Goa Archdiocese living in Portugal. He also presented the profiles of diocesan clergy from the talukas of Bardez and Ilhas (Tiswadi) in two parts of Unum Presbyterium(One Priesthood). He was racing against time trying to finish one of his final projects on the diocesan priests from Salcete.
The youngest of five brothers from Saligao, Mascarenhas was ordained a priest on April 26, 1940, and served in his vocation for close to five decades, assisting parishes in Margao, Vasco and Rachol, among others. He was the parish priest at Our Lady of Penha de Franca Church and also served as a spiritual advisor in the archdiocese’s family life movement.
Mascarenhas also wrote about successful people of Saligao from all over the world as well as about Goan culture, customs and folklore on his blog saligaoserenade.com. He was bestowed a state award for literature.
His remains will be kept at Holy Spirit Church on Tuesday at 11am, and will be moved for Saligao at 1.30pm, for a funeral service at 4pm.
(The Times of India)