By Melwyn Pinto SJ
Varanasi, Aug 20 : Fr Paschal Serrao, a priest of the Diocese of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, passed away on Tuesday, August 20 due to a massive heart attack. He was 68. He is survived by seven brothers and three sisters.
He was one of the six priests in his family. His other brother priests include Fr Francis Serrao SJ, the Provincial of Karnataka Jesuit Province, Fr Celestine Sera SJ, Fr Gregory Serrao of Mangalore Diocese, Fr John Serrao SVD and Fr Lazarus Serrao SVD. One of his sisters, Sr Lilly Serrao is a nun belonging to the Sisters of Charity.
Born in 1945 in Moodbidri, Mangalore, Fr Paschal was a priest for 35 years. He joined the Varanasi Diocese and was ordained a priest in 1978. Most of his priestly life he spent in the missions and parishes of Varanasi Diocese. Presently he was the parish priest of Fathima Mata Church, Mawaiya, Varanasi.
His brother Fr Francis Serrao SJ describes Fr Paschal as a very devout and dedicated priest. “He was deeply human, simple in his life style, a man of few words and a man of depth,” he adds.
The other siblings of Fr Paschal are Mark Serrao, Felix Serrao, Marceline and Monthina.
The funeral of Fr Paschal will be held at the Cathedral of Varanasi on Thursday, August 22.