Mortal remains of Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha laid to rest

Mortal remains of Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha laid to rest

mangaloretoday.com

Beltangady, Dec 15: Thousands of people in Belthangadi bid tearful adieu to Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha,  papal envoy to Ivory Coast, who died in a tragic accident at Ivory Coast, Africa. The funeral was held at Holy Redeemer Church, Beltangady on Saturday, December 15, in the presence of thousands of Bishops, Priests, Nuns, religious heads and delegates from Ivory Coast.

Mortal remains of Archbishop Dr Ambrose Madtha was laid to rest in specially build den inside the Belthangadi church premises. The funeral Mass was led by Apostolic Nuncio of India Salvatore Pennacchio with bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza and other bishops of various dioceses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archdiocese Dr Franco Mulakkal, Auxiliary bishop of Delhi read out the message by Pope Benedict XVI. "We have lost a gem of a person. The Church has lost a good ambassador," the message stated. The Pope said that as an Archnbishop Dr Madtha had put in great efforts to promote peace and unity.

Apostolic Nuncio of India Salvatore Pennacchio, remembered Archbishop Dr Madtha as his best friend and is saddened in his untimely departure. Serving the sermon the Nuncio said "I am here representing Pope Benedict XVI. He thanked all the representatives of Ivory Coast who have come all the way to witness the funeral. "Life and death are god’s wish and Archbishop Dr Madtha has gone to his master, the Lord our God." “May his soul rest in peace” he prayed.

Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy of Beltangady, Bishop Dr Oswald Lewis of Jaipur, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi, Bishop Dr Anthony Swamy of Chikmagalur, Bishop Geevarghese Mar Divannasios of Puttur, had also served the funeral mass.

Fr Francis Rodrgues, Fr Denis Prabhu, Fr William Menezes, Fr Ritesh Rodrigues, Fr Alfred Pinto, Fr Simon D’Souza, Fr Anil D’Souza, Fr Gregory D’Souza, Fr Richard Lasrado, Fr James D’Souza, Fr Melvin Noronha, Fr Valerian Menezes and Fr Andrew were among the priests present.

Mangalore bishop, Aloysius Paul D’Souza, conveyed condolence message to Dr Madtha’s family members. Beltangady parish council vice-president Fr Vincent Madtha, Lucknow bishop Dr Gerald Mathias and Ivory Coast foreign minister Charles Koffi Diby also expressed condolence.

Ivory Coast minister of social affairs Anne Desiree Oulopo, president of Episcopal Conference Dr Alexis Touabli Youlo and Archbishop of Abidjan Dr Jean-Pierre Kutwa were among the delegates present.

Oscar Fernandes and his wife Blossom, MLA Vasanth Bangera and many other eminent personalities paid their last respects to the departed soul.