By Matters India Reporter

Mumbai, Jan. 6, 2020: Father Alban D’Souza, popularly known as the ‘singing priest’ of Mumbai, died of cardiac arrest on January 5.

The 54-year-old priest was the assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Borivli.

He led the musical band Ambassadors of Christ, which was popular in the Christian community and on social media.

“He brought everyone together through music. He was the founder of the Band of Priests, which played at different churches in the city,” said Alfred Nogueira, Father D’Souza’s schoolmate at Our Lady of Salvation High School in Dadar.

Nogueira recalled the priest as a smiling, effervescent boy who carried “that sunshine personality into adulthood.” Father D’Souza “endeared himself to youth, encouraging them to find themselves through music. He played the guitar himself,” he added.

Social media posts paint a picture of a peppy priest with music as the central motif of life. Excerpts from a widely shared post by Father Rueben Tellis reads: ‘The Band of Priests — Ambassadors of Christ has lost a pivotal member. Alban took his band across the Archdiocese… entertaining parishes at feast celebrations. The heavenly orchestra now has a new member…”

Cynera Rodricks, general secretary IC Colony Parish Youth Forum, said Father D’Souza had been a “father figure and confidant. He told me to believe in myself while I was entrusted with the ‘Winter Wonderland’ project, a winter camp for kids.”

She described him as a “father figure and a confidant” who motivated young people and helped them to do better in life.

Dadar’s Suresh Mendoza, who was part of a band with Father D’Souza when they were just out of school, said, “He was not a priest then, but always a conservative, calming influence.”

The Requiem Mass was offered at I.C. Church, Borivli on January 6 morning.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, led the funeral Mass at 4 pm at St. Blaise Church, Amboli followed by burial at St. Blaise Cemetery.

Named after the motto of the Goregaon seminary, Ambassadors For Christ is made up of five priests —Fathers Melroy Fernandes, who serves as assistant director of the Catholic Communication Centre and helps at the parish of Our Lady of Health, Cavel; Gavin D’Souza, principal of St Pius Church, Mulund on keyboards; Tellis, the parish priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church as lead vocalist, Bandra, and Omar Fernandes, assistant at St Francis Xavier Church, Vile Parle on bass, and D’Souza on vocals and guitar.