It is with heavy heart I account on the funeral and burial of Fr Joachim D’Mello SJ. St. Francis Xavier Church in Port Morant welcomed the mortal remains of Fr Joachim. It was on Sunday, 26 January; Fr Joachim was laid to rest at this parish cemetery. The funeral proceedings of Father commenced in the dismal afternoon with pouring tributes from family and friends who had come from across the world. Everyone eulogized Father for his dedication, availability and cheerfulness in the mission that is entrusted to him. Fr. Ronald Fernades, Jennifer Hickel, Thelma Roach, Gibion Moonsammy, Michella Abrams and others related to the goodness that Fr Joachim exhibited during his 18 years of long tenure in this part of the world. His niece, Ms Reyna Sequeira expressed with utmost sadness that her uncle ‘Tika’, as they would call him, walked the talk and gave his entire life in the service of God. She, along with, Fr Jaochim’s brother and cousin travelled from England to pay their last tribute. People also travelled from Barbados, Lethem and Georgetown to bid farewell to Fr Joachim.
The funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr Chris Llonos, the superior of Jesuits in Guyana and Jamaica. Fr. Paul Martin preached a fitting homily by comparing how St. Francis Xavier, an ardent missionary who went to India and whose incorruptible body is laid in Bom Jesu Cathedral in Goa, from where Fr Joachim hails. He expressed it was time for Fr Joachim to serve Guyana as did St Francis Xavier in India. He also remembered his commitment and availability lead him to hinterlands, coast lands and other Caribbean islands.
Thereafter, he was laid to rest in the parish cemetery next to Fr Kuruvilla who died a few years ago. Both, Fr Joachim and Fr Kuruvilla served in this parish for a long time hence it was proper that they be laid to rest in the parish.
If I may recall his unceasing service as a jovial priest for all; Fr. Joachim has been serving in the lengths and breaths of this country. People will remember him as a ‘priest for all’ or ‘a jolly-good priest’. He served as priest in Rupununi for several years where he started honey-culture and carpentry. He encouraged the people in Lethem to do the same. This was his unforgettable contribution besides being an inspirational pastor. As a director of Guyana Human Development Centre in Port Mourant, Berbice, Fr Joachim encouraged the students to take-up vocational skills training such as cooking, cake baking, pedicure, computer skills and so on. He also persuaded the local boys to be trained in basketball and personally trained a team at the center. This center trains school drop-out students in various skills and hence, they are better equipped to take-up jobs or start small business. In these small ways, he touched many hearts. Fr Joachim has also served in St. Pius X parish Church and Jesuit head-quarters in Queenstown. Most persons will relate to him as ‘a priest for all’ because of his service to all. He also had a pleasant and soothing personality that won many friends. He preached with conviction. I have lost a good friend and I pay tribute of gratitude for all the service he rendered to the people of Guyana. Most people who share same sentiment as myself and he will missed by the Jesuits of Goa, Guyana, and close family and friends. He is gone suddenly but lest we not forget that God has a plan for each one of us. I personally would like to thank Fr Joachim for inspiring me through his service in small ways. He was indeed faithful in small things. I will end this account with one fitting quotation from Fr. Joachim, “always appreciate positives and leave negatives to God to deal with.”
Originally published on Catholic Standard on 31 January 2020.
Jerri Dias
Georgetown