By Matters India Reporter
Vijayawada, Oct 26, 2022: A young Catholic priest has suspected to have died by suicide in the diocese of Vijayawada, southern India.
A message from the Vijaywada Bishop’s House says Father Kondru Velankani Raju died at 8 pm on October 25. He was 33.
“We are deeply saddened by the news that we have lost Rev Fr Kondru Velankani Raju yesterday (October 25, 2022) at 8 pm,” the message says.
It also said the requiem Mass would be celebrated at 3:30 pm on October 26 at Gunadala Parish Church. The main celebrant was Bishop Thelagathoti Joseph Raja Rao of Vijayawada. The body was later buried in the cemetery at Gunadala.
The deceased was the assistant parish priest of a town parish. The cause of his death is not yet known.
It’s very shocking that priest and religious take the extream step of ending life. Life is a gift of God and it should be lived fully. It’s time for all of us to take more time for prayer, come close to god, daily commit our consecration and take the challanges of life. Who has no problems, we all have but we have to face it, for that we need to strengthen one another, love and. Affirm, help and support. We lost a priest who represent Christ for us. Let’s not rise up and face reality, and keep going and be a witness of Jesus our master.
Sr Hrudaya
We need not romanticize priests and Religious committing suicide ! They too are human beings, vulnerable, weak, fragile and prone to suicidal tendency. They too are easily succumbed to the situations of challenges, confrontations, trials, temptations, fear and anxieties in life. What we need to focus on their ongoing formation is creating a sense of belongingness to their respective diocese and religious congregation. Recognition and affirmation of each ones skills and talents are important. Faith in the Lord is alone not sufficient. Faith in their fellow companions also vital. When the individuals are discriminated by powerful authorities, caste orientation, unequal opportunities and seeing other as a threat then persons like Fr. Velankani Raju would become victims of suicide. A person who commits suicide is driven to a desperate condition, we need to understand. Seminaries and religious houses of both men and women should introspect their own way of life and mission in the Church and in the society at large.
It is a new trend that Catholic priests to commit suicide. It was something never heard of in the past. During the last 10 years how many priests committed suicide? The Church authorities must seriously think of conducting a detailed study based on the individual cases to know what caused this extreme step. It is a great loss to the Church in India. They may be under pressure due to one reason or other.
K J George