D'Arcy D'Souza

Father D'Arcy D'Souza (1913 - December 10, 2009) was a Pakistani Roman Catholic priest who spent 66 years of his priestly life serving the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, making him at the time of his death, the longest-serving priest in the archdiocese.

Life and career

D'Souza completed a degree in civil engineering from the University of Bombay (now Mumbai)'s Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute before his ordination into the priesthood. He served as Principal of Saint Patrick's High School, Karachi from 1958 to 1964, then went on to become the second Principal of Saint Patrick's College, Karachi.

As the Archdiocese's longest serving priest he was selected to give the keynote address at the celebration of the silver jubilee of the episcopal ordination of the previous Archbishop, Simeon Anthony Pereira on October 4, 1996.

He also spoke at the March 15, 2000 funeral Mass for Sister Christine Sequeira who died of injuries after she was beaten by robbers who ransacked her convent in Malir, where he described "banditry" as "a lifestyle" in Pakistan. The funeral was attended by Sindh provincial Governor Azim Daudpota, Karachi Commissioner Shafique-ur-Rehman Pracha and Sindh Education Minister Anita Ghulamali.

Death and funeral

D'Arcy died in Holy Family Hospital in Karachi on December 10, 2009, aged 96.

Archbishop Evarist Pinto was the main celebrant at the funeral mass on 12 December, 2009 at St Patrick’s Cathedral. A tribute was given by Fr. Pat McCaffrey S.S.C. who had known D'Souza for the past twenty five years. They first met in January 1984, shortly after he had taken over responsibility for the parish of Matli, D'Souza came to St. Joseph's Parish in Matli to visit.