-Prof. P. Archibald Furtado
REST IN ETERNAL PEACE ….
Rev Fr Mark Walder, a learned and a talented priest born on 22nd October, 1936, in a remote hamlet Badaga in Yekkar village, near Mangalore.
After his early education at native village completed in SSLC in Bajpe, and joined St Joseph’s Seminary Jeppu Mangalore. Ordained priest on 2nd February, 1966 and Barkur, St Peter Church was his first parish as Assistant to Very Rev Fr Aloysius Rosario the Vicar. From here he completed his BA Ext from Karnataka University, Dharvar and later Diploma in Journalism, MA in Kannada from University of Mysore in 1971.
Our readers and well wishers may read about this great and scholarly priest, as the editor of Raknno Konkani Weekly and later as parish priest etc in other portals. At his ripe age of 87 due to age related ailments breathed his last at St Zuze Vas Home in Kankanady today.
About 57 years ago he was in Barkur. Short in stature was a brilliant preacher in those years. It was this young pastor taught us catechism and prepared us for both First Holy Communion in May 1966 and same year in October - Confirmation. Memories are fresh as it was the first ever pastoral visit of young and energetic tall and handsome, then Bishop of Mangalore – Rt Rev. Dr Basil DSouza, (11-5-1965) to our Church.
The whole town accorded a warm reception and taken to the church in a colourful procession from Kalchapra to Church with several stops on his way. He arrived via Kundapura – Basrur route since the bridge over Sita was just proposed not constructed!
Coming to Fr Mark Walder’s days in Barkur – He was celebrating only Second Mass at 9.30 a.m as the first Mass for elders and the privilege of Vicar only. His sermons were full of moral and ethical narratives and afternoon general catechisms classes were so attractive even in those tender years of 5 to 8 years. His days were marked with great dramas through St Peters Association, as a versatile director…Understand that he used to write regularly for Raknno Diocesan Konkani weekly and from Barkur transferred to Mangalore Cassia, Shirva as assistant and in 1972 to Rakno Office as Assistant editor and later deservedly elevated to be the Editor for a long tenure.
He was a regular rather daily visitor to Maryknoll Primary School and teaching Catechism to Class VII and the construction of new block was in progress. He had amazing memories to call most of us by name, (probably because we were more mischievous and trouble makers) in later years whenever he used to visit Barkur, especially during the ordination, First Holy Mass of once his altar boys opted to serve God and His men.
One of the intelligent and down to earth priest was very courageous and determined to his beliefs, especially in those years of switching over to new liturgy from Latin to Konkani our local language in his days especially in Barkur.
May Rev Fr Mark Valder rest in eternal peace in heaven.
ಫಾ। ಮಾರ್ಕ್ ವಾಲ್ಡರ್ - ಏಕ್ ಉಡಾಸ್
■ ಕಿಟಾಳ್ ಜಾಳಿಜಾಗ್ಯಾಖಾತಿರ್ 2013 ವ್ಯಾ ವರ್ಸಾ ಎಚ್ಚೆಮ್, ಪೆರ್ನಾಲ್ ಆನಿ ವಿಲ್ಸನ್, ಕಟೀಲ್ ಹಾಣಿ ಘೆತ್ಲ್ಲೆಂ ಸಂದರ್ಶನ್
ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ್ ಜಿಣ್ಯೆ ಅನ್ಬೋಗಾಂತ್ಲ್ಯಾನ್ ಯೇಜೆ – ಮಾ। ಬಾ। ಮಾರ್ಕ್ ವಾಲ್ಡರ್