Catholic press body mourns death of last surviving founder

By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi: The Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) on August 26 mourned the death of its last survivor founder earlier in the day.

Monsignor Benedict Aguiar had led the organisation as its president from 1969 to 1978.

“In his death the ICPA has lost a father-figure. His long and illustrious life and legacy as priest, communicator, historian, author and organizer will continue to inspire us and the posterity for sure. The zeal and consistency he maintained in his convictions and actions make him an all-time role-model for everyone. Witty and jovial, he was active almost till the end,” says a condolence message from association president Ignatius Gonsalves.

The message noted that Monsignor Aguiar had held various assignments and responsibilities with distinction under India’s first Cardinal Valerian Gracias and his successors Cardinals Simon Pimenta, Ivan Dias and Oswald Gracias.

“Monsignor Aguiar is best remembered for his long stint as editor of Examiner, the Catholic Weekly published by the Archdiocese since 1850. During his editorship that lasted several decades, he transformed it into a truly national weekly with international acceptance. It was in 1994 that he relinquished that post, leaving charge to Father Anthony Charangatt, the present editor.

“Aguiar’s scholarly essay deals with the impact of the Second Vatican Council on South Asia. Another best seller was the biography of Pope John Paul II, now saint. It was published on the eve of the Pope’s first visit to India in 1986 and sold out like hot cake. He has also lavishly contributed to national and international publications and agencies.”

The visit of Pope Paul VI, now a saint, to attend the International Eucharistic Congress held in Mumbai (December 2-5, 1964), the UCIP World Congress in Delhi (1986) hosted by the ICPA, and similar programs bear ample testimony for his organizational skills. He was a prominent member of UCIP (International Union of Catholic Press) and the President of South Asia Catholic Press Association.

“The best way to mourn his death would be to re-dedicate ourselves to the values he cherished and passionately lived for. As an organization, let us also think about ways and means to perpetuate the memory of pioneering veterans like him,” Gonsalves said.