By Matters India Reporter
Bengaluru, July 10, 2020: The funeral of Father Anthony Swamy, former chancellor of the archdiocese of Bangalore, was held on July 10 with restricted number of people.
The 61-year-old priest died July 8, a day before his birthday, at Sagar Apollo Hospital in Marathahalli, a suburb of Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka state, southern India.
“I am sorry to report that the medical authorities certified that the late Rev. Fr. A. S. Anthony Swamy died of being Coronavirus positive,” says a condolence message from Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore.
The priest’s body was retained in the hospital for post-death investigations in view of the Covid-19 norms. The priest was initially thought to have died of cardiac arrest.
The prelate said the priest was buried at Sacred Heart Church Priests Cemetery in Richmond Town at 2:30 pm following the Karnataka government protocols for Covid deaths.
Archbishop Peter Machado said the archdiocese has “lost a great, exemplary, dynamic priest who served the archdiocese with real pastoral zeal and great commitment.”
Father Swamy was serving as the parish priest of St Theresa Church, Robertsonpet, Kolar Gold Fields, 65 km northeast of Bengaluru.
Father Swamy was born on July 9, 1959, in Bengaluru and was baptized at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Bengaluru where he served as parish priest for several years. He was sixth among nine children.
He was ordained a priest in 1988 by Archbishop Alphonsus Mathias.
He was known for promoting devotions, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Mary and St Anthony.
During his tenure as the parish priest of St Mary’s Shrine Basilica, Shivajinagar, he worked for its spiritual development through First Saturday Devotions, Night Vigil Services, Bible Classes, Eucharistic Adoration and Penitential Services. He organized a number of spiritual programs, seminars, gatherings and conventions as part of the shrine’s annual shrine feast in September.
Archbishop Machado also informed that one more priest of the archdiocese, Father Joseph Susainathan, has been tested Covid-19 positive. He is admitted to St John’s Medical College Hospital in the city.
The prelate termed as fake the news about Father John Antony, parish priest of St Francis Xavier Cathedral, had tested Covid positive.
“This is not true. Thanks be to God, Fr. John Anthony is hale and hearty,” Archbishop Machado said.
The prelate also expressed relief that his predecessor Archbishop Emeritus Bernard Moras and two priests – Fathers Dominic Xavier, Joseph Susainathan and Celestine Sahaya of the Precious Blood Congregation, who were infected with the coronavirus, have become stable and responding well to treatment.