Fr Felix Moras of St Joseph
A Pioneer Missionary on his Final Journey
Comforted with the Sacraments, the silent
longstanding struggle of Rev. Fr. Felix
Moras (1948-2021) with his illness came to
an abrupt end. Fr. Felix surrendered to
God’s will and left us for Our Father's
abode on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 8-20
am, in Fr Muller’s Hospital, Mangalore. For
a more participative adieu for him, the
funeral rites were scheduled for Saturday.
Accordingly, the funeral mass took place on
February 13, 2021 at the Infant Jesus
Shrine, Carmel Hill, Mangalore, with a very
robust presence of our friars from near and
far, numbering around 60, along with a dozen
of diocesan priests, a few religious
sisters. It was attended by at least 200 lay
people, while maintaining the basic protocol
requirements, already in place for COVID-19
epidemic.
The bier with the mortal remains of Fr Felix
arrived at the Shrine at 9-00 am and was
received by very many of our friars and his
close relations, who had been waiting. The
body was laid in state at the centre for
homage by the friars and relatives. Soon
thereafter all the friars present, huddled
together for prayer in the shrine, and the
Provincial, Fr Pius James D’Souza conducted
the rite of blessing the body of departed
Fr. Felix. There was a grim silence all
around.
Then the Divine Office for the Dead was
solemnly chanted by the friars, with the
intoning, in Gregorian chant, the
traditional Latin sequence 'Libera me Domine'
at the end. It resounded in the silent
shrine, giving a well merited colour and
climax to the last salute and farewell to a
liturgical expert.
At 10-00 am the funeral mass commenced,
presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul
Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, immediately
surrounded by Fr. Provincial, Fr. Victor his
nephew, Fr. George and Fr. Charles. All the
priests: Carmelite, Capuchin and diocesan
joined in the concelebration. Fr George
Santhumayor preached the homily highlighting
our essential belongingness to God and our
natural dwelling place is heaven; here to
start with, and then beyond.
After the H. Mass Fr Joe Tauro on behalf of
the Province highlighted the life of Fr
Felix through a eulogy, thanking him for his
decades of missionary enthusiasm and
priestly generosity and bid him adieu with a
fraternal touch of sentiment. Fr Charles
Serrao, Superior of St Joseph’s Monastery in
turn vivified the last days of Fr Felix
Moras, highlighting his undaunted courage
and his discipline to come to community acts
and collaborate in shrine ministry even just
a couple of days before his demise. He
thanked profusely the medical and nursing
staff who served him; as well as our
seminarians and friars who prayed for him,
served him and gave him support round the
clock.
On behalf of Tanzanian Mission, a wreath was
placed on Fr Felix by Fr. Walter Lobo, the
first missionary of Tanzania and Fr. Francis
Bartholomio who was a missionary in Africa
and took care of Fr Felix during his last
days. Later another wreath was placed by the
Parish Priest of Kirem and the Parish
Council member of Kirem, the native parish
of Fr Felix.
Fr Victor D’Souza, parish priest of Kemman
and the nephew of Fr Felix acknowledged the
care given by the friars and expressed words
of gratitude to the Carmelites on behalf of
the family. Fr Provincial officiated the
final rite in the Shrine. Fr Archibald
Gonsalves as the master of ceremony,
animated the audience prayerfully all
through the funeral rites.
The funeral cortege left the Church in a
procession to the adjacent cemetery of the
friars, to the accompaniment of choice
hymns. Fr Victor D’Souza conducted the final
prayer service and commendation of the soul
at the Cemetery. Then as they departed, all
the participants were served light
refreshments.
Fr Felix Moras a pioneer of Tanzanian
mission suffered much due to colon cancer
for the past six years. In spite of the
inconvenience, perennial pain and stress of
illness he was jovial and cheerful in the
community. He loved to be in the community.
In his demise the K.G. Province has lost a
true missionary and a friar who worked for
the poor and the least. We pray that the
Risen Lord may grant him Eternal rest in His
Heavenly abode. May the missionary spirit of
Fr Felix penetrate and permeate deep in all
of us as we journey here on earth. May he
rest Peace!