NT Reporter
Margao
Thousands bid a teary farewell to priest and environmentalist Fr Bolmax Pereira on Thursday. Fr Bolmax died on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest.
His mortal remains were placed at St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim, in the morning where a Holy Mass was held. Later in the afternoon, the body was taken to his residence in Quepem, from where the funeral cortege departed for Holy Cross Church, Quepem, where the Eucharistic celebration and burial took place.
“On the one hand we are very sad, but on the other hand we are happy and thank God for the work and life that Fr Bolmax led. He not only realised the importance of preserving our nature, but worked to protect it. With his creativity, he has contributed immensely to the ecological protection of the Western region of the Diocesan Commission for Ecology as its secretary,” said Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes, who celebrated the funeral Mass along with other priests.
During the sermon, Fr Bolmax was remembered for his work towards preserving nature.
“He was called to be a priest and he did the work through his vocation. And now God has called him home,” he said.
Stating that there a lot to say about Fr Bolmax, the Auxiliary Bishop said he was a loving priest and knowledgeable.
“He underwent an open-heart surgery in Bengaluru. When he recovered and returned, he used to tell us that he saw his heart. We have seen his heart through his good work because he was always kind and simple in explaining his thoughts and did not stop taking care of his parishioners,” he said.
The Auxiliary Bishop said that Fr Bolmax studied botany because he witnessed “the death of our nature” and wanted to save it. “He saw how fields were dying and took the youth to revive and give life to the fields,” said Fr Fernandes.
Fr Bolmax was also remembered as a person who shared his knowledge with everyone.
“His last words were, ‘I am not afraid. Jesus, have mercy on me.’ And the same God will have mercy on him and we have to pray for him and his family,” one of the priests said.
Also present were Archbishop of Sindhudurg Agnelo Pinheiro and Bishop Emeritus Allwyn Barreto.
Ordained as a priest in 2004, Fr Bolmax served as assistant parish priest in Fatorda, Mapusa, Loutolim, Agassaim and Nerul. He also served as parish priest in Chicalim and was convener of the Diocesan Commission for Ecology.
Fr Bolmax was known for his work in protecting nature and ecology, as
well as working with the youth and enjoyed football and music. He also encouraged youth participation in farming activities. At St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, he served as an assistant professor. Organic farming and ecological protection were among his main areas of work.
