In Memory of Fr Laureano Mascarenhas

Pedro Francisco Laureano Vicente de Maria Mascarenhas, was born on 1* February 1954 in Raia. After his STD XI, SSCE, in Pope John XXIII High

School in Quepem, he joined the Minor Seminary of Saligão in June 1970. After his Minor Seminary he went to the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol in 1973 for his Philosophical and Theological Studies. He was ordained a Priest in his home Parish of Raia on I”May, 1980.

His ministry was in three continents: 13 years in Goa, 9 years in United States of America and 21 years in Australia in the Diocese of Perth. After his ordination to Priesthood, he was appointed as Assistant to the Parish Priest of Verna.

After the Pastoral Course of one year, he was appointed as Assistant to the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Merces, Colva. Then he was appointed as Secretary to the late Archbishop Patriarch Raul Gonsalves. In 1986, he was appointed as Assistant to Parish Priest of St. Thomas Church, Aldona. In 1987 he was appointed as Prefect of Discipline in the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol. In 1990 he also became the Procurator there. In 1992 he was again appointed as Assistant of Verna and Parochial Administrator of the same Parish. In June 1993, he was appointed as Assistant to the Parish Priest of Mae de Deus Church, Saligao. After working for a month or two there, he left for United States. He served at the L’Arche Community founded by Jean Vanier, for the differently abled people. From United States, Fr. Laureano went to Perth, Australia, in 2002. After working for some time there, he was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Perth, Australia. He was working there with great zeal when around five years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer. He continued to work along with the treatment, when some months ago his kidneys failed and he had to be on dialysis.

At his family’s request, he came down in Goa towards the February end. 2023 and resided in the Clergy Home, Porvorim, where he returned to the Lord on Good Friday, 7 April 2023.