Archbishop Durairaj SVD along with many priests, religious and laity remembered very fondly the Late Archbishop Eugene D’ Souza, founder of the Archdiocese on his 19th Death Anniversary and prayed for the departed soul at St Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Jahangirabad on Thursday at 5.30 pm.
In his homily, during solemn Mass, Archbishop Durairaj SVD said that the late bishop was loved by young and old and asked the people to follow the example of Bishop Eugene by doing their duty without expecting the reward. The Church is not a building but the people of a community, he said.
Late Archbishop Most Rev. Eugene D’ Souza was born on 15 November 1917. He became Archbishop of Bhopal in 1963 since then the diocese gradually began to grow with many institutions, churches and religious personals. He died on 18 March 2003
Fr. Maria Stephen, the PRO said that Late Archbishop Eugene was intelligent and down to the earth. His relationship with bureaucrats and the public remains the foundation stone of the Church. He remains in the hearts of all. His soft skills on relationships brought the people together from far and wide and made Bhopal diocese a centre of love and service he said. Fr. Dilip Minj the Parish Priest of Cathedral thanked everyone for their presence for the Holy mass. Later the tomb of late Archbishop Eugene was blessed.