By Matters India Reporter
Thane, July 25, 2020: The Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, on July 25 lost its first member in India to Covid-19.
“With deep regret I inform you that Father Simplicious (Khess) had a massive heart attack a short while ago. All attempts to resuscitate him have failed,” says a message from Doctor Noel Coutinho, vice president of the pastoral council of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Thane.
Father Khess was hospitalized after testing Covid-positive 15 days ago. Since then, the Dominicans in India prayed for Father Khess. They also observed July 22 as a day prayer and fast for the priest’s recovery.
Father Khess was 43 and a priest for 11 years.
He was the sixth Catholic priest to die of Covid-19 in India.
He was buried at Our Lady of Fatima Church cemetery in Magiwada, Thane. The funeral services were led by Father Rocky Michael, said Melwyn Fernandes, a parishioner who was among the 20 participants.
Fernandes, who is also the secretary of the Association of Concerned Catholics, said Father Khess regularly offered Mass in their parish
“Although, he showed signs of recovery, his condition worsened drastically in the past five days. He was put on ventilator. He developed various complications such as kidney failure, rupture in the lungs, and drop of blood pressure” Fernandes told Matters India.
According to him, Father Khess, who was staying the Dominican house of Garden Estate Bungalow, had become depressed after his brother, who looked after their aged parents, died of cancer on June 22.
Father Khess was born in Sambalpur, Odisha, as the second of three children. The youngest is a St Anne’s sister.