Chikmagalur: Emotional farewell marks the last journey of Late Fr. Valerian Castelino

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Chikmagalur, 10 Feb 2015: Most Rev. Dr. Antony Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur along with the priests of Chikmagalur Diocese and hundreds of admirers and family members of late Fr. Valerian Castelino gave him emotional farewell on Monday, 9 February 2015. Fr. Valerian Castelino had passed away in the early morning of Sunday 8 February 2015 at Bala Yesu Niwas Shrine, Parvathipura, Chikmagalur after losing battle with lung cancer.  His body in priestly vestments placed in a cool-box was kept in a specially erected pandal in front of the shrine where hundreds of people from Chikmagalur and nearby places came to pay last respect to him throughout the day and night.

 

On Monday, 9 February 2015, the mortal remains of Fr. Valerian were brought to St. Joseph’s Cathedral in the heart of the city for the funeral rites and burial.

 

The funeral mass was offered at 3.30 pm by Most Rev. Dr. Antony Swamy along with Msgr. George D’Souza, Vicar General of Chikmagalur Diocese, Msgr. Felix Joseph Noronha, Vicar General of Shivmoga Diocese and 62 other priests from Chikmagalur Diocese and some priests from Mangalore-Fr. Denis Castelino, Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Fr. Valerian Pinto and Fr. Vincent Menezes. A large number of sisters representing different congregations in Chikmagalur were also present for the funeral mass.

 

In his homily, Most Rev. Dr. Antony Swamy said that  when a child is born that child gets breath and no name; however, when a person passes away, he or she gives away the last breath and has a name. Continuing further, the Bishop highlighted the service rendered by late Fr. Valerian Castelino in the Chikmagalur Diocese as a teacher and headmaster of St. Joseph’s Boys School, parish priest of Shettihalli and Rector of Bala Yesu Niwas Shrine. Even the day before he passed away, Fr. Valerian, in spite of  pain and sufferings made it a point to offer the mass and prayed for all. The Bishop also pointed out that it was a miracle that in spite of serious illness in the month of December and undergoing treatment, Fr. Valerian survived and had a strong will that he should celebrate Infant Jesus feast on 14 January 2015, which he did and later his health began to deteriorate further.

 

At the end of the funeral mass, Msgr. George D’Souza, Vicar General offered ‘shraddhanjali’ in which he narrated in brief the family background, training and service of Fr. Valerian in the Diocese of Chikmagalur. Late Fr. Valerian Castelino served for 40 years in the diocese. He served as a teacher in St. Joseph’s Boys School for 23 years from 1975 to 1998 and as headmaster from 1998 to 2003. As a teacher and headmaster, Fr. Valerian was very close to his students and helped them in many ways. Msgr. George D’Souza also said that he had financially helped many students and enabled them to find good jobs. He further said that  because of the help and inspiration provided by late Fr. Valerian, 14 of his students joined priesthood. Fr. Valerian was a lover of plants, flowers and animals and as such  he had laid out a number gardens and planted fruit trees and maintained dogs who became his constant companions. Fr. Valerian was a generous giver and had helped financially many families and individuals of which he sought no publicity. He was chiefly responsible for popularising the devotion of Infant Jesus in Chikmagalur since he became the Rector of Bala Yesu Niwas Shrine  in 2010.

 

On behalf of the Chikmagalur Diocese, Bishop Antony Swamy paid tribute to late Fr. Valerian Castlino by placing a flower wreath on the cool-box, followed by the headmaster and students of St. Joseph’s Boys School, a sister representing Shettihalli parish, Fr. A. Shantraj, parish priest of St. Joseph’s Cathedral and Msgr. Felix Joseph Noronha, Vicar Geenral of Shimoga Diocese.

 

On behalf of the family of late Fr. Valerian Castelino, his cousin-Fr. Denis Castelino expressed gratitude to the Bishop of Chikmagalur and alls the priests, doctors, nurses and staff of Shivmoga hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Chikmagalur and St. John’s Medical Colelge Hospital, Bangalore and all those who had helped Fr. Valerian in time of his ailment.

 

 

The family members of late Fr. Valerian Castelino, especially his elder sister-Mrs. Josephine, brothers-Edward and Denis, younger sister-Sr. Helen and younger brother Henry who was with Fr. Valerian since 13 January 2015 paid their last respect  to their beloved brother. A number of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends  of Fr. Valerian paid their respect. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish priest of Moodubelle paid respect on behalf of the Moodubelle parishioners.

 

Fr. A. Shantraj, parish priest of St. Joseph’s Cathedral who had made arrangements of the funeral of late Fr. Valerian thanked everyone who had been associated with Fr. Valerian during his service in the diocese and during the last days of his life.

 

After the final blessing of the mortal remains of Fr. Valerian by the Bishop, hundreds of people rushed to pay their last respect to their departed beloved Fr. Valerian. Around 2000 mourners were present for the funeral. Thereafter, the mortal remains of Fr. Valerian were transferred from the  cool-box to the white coffin which was carried by the priests from the Chikmagalur diocese to the cemetery. The funeral procession passed through the main road to the cemetery nearly half a kilometre away from the Cathedral.

 

Msgr. Felix Joseph Noronha conducted final funeral rites in the cemetery. After some time having his brothers and sisters and close ones viewing the mortal remains of their beloved Fr. Valerian for the last time, the coffin was covered and lowered in the built up grave for the final rest of one of the most loved priest not only by his family, relatives and friends but also countless students and people of Chikmagalur.

 

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• Fr. Valerian Castelino of Moodubelle serving in Chikmagalur Diocese passes away