Obituary of Fr. Richard Saldanha

SALDANHA, Fr. Richard Fr.Richard Saldanha (58), priest of Calcutta diocese passed away on February 18, 2010 in Bangalore India. Fr Saldanha was a former priest at our lady help of Christians of Watford, St. Mathew's church of Alvinston and he was presently serving as the parish priest of St. Joe's and St. Ursula's church of Chatham Ontario Canada. Fr. Richard was born on October 2nd, 1951 and ordained on May 11th, 1979. He is the son of the Late Boniface Saldanha and Late Elize Saldanha Kemmannu, brother of Oswald and Walter Saldanha, brother in law of Dorris and Gracy Saldanha- Kemmannu. Funeral Mass was held at St. Theresa's church in India on Sunday 21st February 2010 at 4pm. Condolences may be left online at www.denningfuneralhome.com . CHATHAM DAILY NEWS Posted By TREVOR TERFLOTH, THE DAILY NEWS Posted 5 hours ago A popular Chatham parish priest, described as a jokester with an infectious smile, has died. Father Richard Saldanha, pastor of the St. Joseph and St. Ursula Catholic parish cluster in Chatham, passed away in India after what was suspected to be a heart attack. He was 58. Saldanha was on vacation in his home country, according to a statement from the Diocese of London. "We're shocked and we're saddened," said Mark Adkinson, the diocese's director of communications, on Friday. "It's devastating news for his family and for the community." Saldanha is survived by two brothers and four nieces. The funeral will take place Sunday in Kemmannu, India. A local memorial mass will be held at St. Joseph Church on Tuesday at 7 p.m., with Bishop Ronald Fabbro as the celebrant. Saldanha and several parishioners were bringing 400 pounds of donated school supplies to New Delhi. The group was to return to Chatham at the beginning of March. David Bondy, grand knight of the Knights of Columbus St. Joseph Council 10436, drove Saldanha to the airport. "I had no idea that it would be the last time I would see him," he said. Bondy said Saldanha often helped out in India with Madonna Missions and was always concerned about the feelings of others. "He was a kind, perceptive man," he said. "He always looked at the good side of things."