By Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas
Ranchi, Nov 27, 2019: Not many coupes get the chance to receive blessings in private from the Pope on their wedding anniversary.
This was actually what happened to Ofelia and Vepul Kaiser on their 30th wedding anniversary.
Two Indian bishops who were in Rome in September for their ad limina visit conveyed to Pope Francis about the great desire of the Catholic couple from Kolkata to meet the pontiff in person.
The bishops also told the Pope that the couple have gone out of their way to help the Church in India and tens of bishops, hundreds of priests and sisters have benefited from their generosity and self-sacrifice.
The bishops also told the Pope that Vepul has helped the Mother Teresa sisters in their fight for justice in the case of false accusations against them.
The Pope agreed to receive the couple in a private audience.
The request for the visit was endorsed by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta and Cardinal Patrick Rozario from Bangladesh.
The audience was held on November 8 and the Pope met with the couple for about 15 minutes and gave them his blessing.
Vepul was born in Pune on November 1, 1960, but left the city in 1981 for work and settled in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1986. He is currently the managing director of a German diesel engine company.
He has been a trouble-shooter for the Archdiocese of Calcutta and many other dioceses in India. His connections with high officials have enabled him help Church people in many cases, ranging from payment of taxes to obtaining of visas.
Ofelia was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to Goa after the liberation of Kenya. She married Vepul in 1988. She is active in the all activities of her parish in Kolkata. She is currently the secretary general of the Catholic Association of Bengal, Kolkata.
With the support of her husband, Ofelia now manages a ministry called Life Ascending for elderly people in Kolkata. A monthly newsletter concerning the ministry is circulated to members and friends and benefactors in India and abroad.
The ministry at present has nearly 2,600 members. It was started by late Archbishop Henry D’Souza. The ministry pays poor children their school fees. Currently it cares for about 25 children. Ofelia is also on the governing body of Seva Kendra, Kolkata archdiocese’s social service wing.
The couple have two sons — Victor, a journalist, and Kevin, an event planning manager, both working in Canada.