ANTHONY GONSALVES OFM

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ANTHONY (TONY) GONSALVES OFM (RIP) On Friday, July 10, 2015 "Sister Death" embraced our brother, Anthony Andrew John Gonsalves. Tony, a professed Franciscan Friar for 53 years and an ordained priest for "six months less" than 50 years, died in Duncan, BC, at the age of 75. He was born on February 4, 1940, to Joachim and Clementine (Correa) Gonsalves in Karachi, India (note: India was not divided at that time), and is survived by two brothers, Fermin (Montreal) and Marshal (Denmark). Tony was received into the Franciscan Order on May 31, 1961, in Palmaner, India, made his first profession of vows on June 1, 1962, and given the religious name "Joachim." He made his solemn profession of vows on August 2, 1966, and was ordained a priest on January 6, 1968, in Karachi, Pakistan. Tony served the Franciscan community in Pakistan in leadership roles and as a formator and pastor until he transferred to Canada in 1993, to join the Franciscans of Western Canada. He is well-known for his pastoral skills and faithfully served his Franciscan community and the People of God in Canada in many capacities. Tony served as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, in Edmonton, AB, from 1993 to 2001; as guardian of St. Francis Friary, in Winnipeg, MB, from 2001 to 2004; pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, in Victoria, BC, from 2004 to 2007; guardian of St. Michael's Friary and pastor of the Parishes of St. Peter and St. Jerome (Regina Beach) in Lumsden, SK, from 2007 to 2011; guardian of St. Joseph's Friary and administrator of Holy Cross Parish, in Victoria, BC, from 2011 to 2013; director of San Damiano Friary, in Duncan, BC, from 2013 to 2015, and administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Chemainus, BC, and St. Mary Parish, Ladysmith, BC, from 2014 to 2015. Funeral Prayers will be held at St. Andrew's Cathedral, 740 View Street, in Victoria, BC, at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, July 17. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at the same St. Andrew's Cathedral, on Saturday, July 18, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a light lunch. Burial of cremains will take place at a later date at the Franciscan Cemetery, at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, in Cochrane, Alberta. Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Fund, Franciscan Provincial Office, Box 430, Cochrane, Alberta, T4C 1A6. "May our brother rest in God's peace" Care Funeral - (250) 391-9696

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 15, 2015