A Tribute to Fr. Walter Crasta

 January 21, 1954 - November 26, 2014
Rest  in  Peace

On 22nd November 2014 Fr. Walter called on my mobile and said, "Raju, can you do me a favour, "I am very busy in so many meetings and works. I do not have enough time to prepare a homily for the funeral mass of my mother. Can you prepare a few points and give me. I shall come to Albert's and pick it before I leave for Mangalore." I promptly replied, "I shall do it for you." As he said, came very next day and picked the copy of sermon points from me. Then he met all the staff of the seminary, had his meals. And before leaving for his mother's funeral did not miss to meet all the Jamshedpur Seminarians. 

I have an emotional attachment with him. I do clearly remember the year I came to North India, in the year 1999. I did not know Hindi language then, but it is he who encouraged me and introduced North Indian culture and tradition. He accompanied me from Mangalore till Chaibasa and from Chaibasa till Chakaram Minor Seminary, Patna. I always introduced him as my 'Chacha' (paternal uncle).

I did learn a lot from him: jovial nature, seriousness, quick decision making, empathy, helping the needy, missionary zeal, community life and many more qualities. I do cherish the memories the times I was with him. He encouraged me and guided me every time I met him.

It is said, "Good people depart soon, leaving heaps of memories." It is true with my chacha, Fr. Walter. I have no words of consolation to express now. A heartfelt 'adieu to you chacha. May Gods choicest reward be with you. May you live for ever in our minds and hearts. May the good Lord grant your soul Eternal Rest." 

As a tribute, let me post the same sermon I prepared for your mother. My fingers tremble as I type these few words of tribute. My tears moisten my cheek. Good bye, Good by, Good by my friend, father, priest, colleague and Vicar General.

Pictures taken just few days before his death

Fr. Walter Crasta was born on 21 January 1954 in a devout catholic family in Mulki, Mangalore diocese. After his schooling in his native place, began his priestly studies in 1971 in St. Joseph’s Seminary Mangalore. In 1972, he joined St. Albert’s College, Ranchi for Philosophy. Simultaneously, pursued his Intermediate studies from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi. After two years of Regency in St. Xavier’s Parish and School in Chaibasa in the year 1976-78, continued his theological studies in St. Albert’s College, Ranchi. During this time, he also pursued Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the Xavier’s College, Ranchi. He was ordained priest on 22 December 1982.

Fr. Walter was an dynamic personality. He had energy, joy and full of life. His first priestly ministry was in St. Paul’s Parish, Maluka in the year 1983 as an assistant priest. After an year of village ministry he rendered his service in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Golmuri (1984-86) and St. Xavier’s Church, Chaibasa (1986-89).

He was a visionary and a social worker. In 1989-90 he went to Ahmadabad to pursue Fellowship Programme Social Management. Soon after this completed his MA degree. After his return from Ahmadabad served as Assistant Director of Catholic Charities in Sundernagar, the diocesan Social Work Centre for five years. His pastoral zeal then lead him Gua-Kiribur Parish as a Parish Priest (1995-97).  In 1997 he was made the Parish Priest of Chaibasa Parish.  In 2003 he was made the director of DSWC (Damien Social Welfare Centre), Govindpur, Dhanbad where he served the leprosy patients and their families. After fruitful eight years of service, Fr. Crasta was made the parish priest of Jhinkpani Parish.

Walter’s vision, zeal, service, sacrifice and love for people of God brought him to Curia, as Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur in June 2014 which he willingly and wholeheartedly carried out the task till his last breath.

On 21 November he heard the death of his beloved mother and left to conduct her funeral rites. He buried his mother on 24^th and on 26^th November entered the heavenly abode to be with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit whose servant was he on earth.

Bishop Felix Toppo expressing his grief said, “His death is irreplaceable loss for the diocese.” Jamshedpur diocese has lost a visionary and a missionary. People have lost their beloved “Father.” Fr. Walter was a shepherd par excellence.

However, we are proud and privileged ones to have such a wonderful gift of Fr Walter.  He has shown us a way. He lived the life of hardship and challenges. But he never complained about them. Every time he was cheerful. Bishop Francis Kallist of Meerut Diocese in his Obituary said, “To be a Christian is to be joyful at all times. This very much applies to Fr. Crasta.

Walter was a humane person.  He was simple and humble. Always took the side of poor. Often he said, “Morally correct and legally upright.” Whenever we remember this, surely, his smiling face will appear in front of us.

Fr. Walter, we will miss you, every time we play basketball

We will miss your jokes in our conversation

We will remember you every time we miss the blend of your puffs in the air and jar of coffee

We will miss you, we will miss you and we will miss you.

Heartfelt condolences to Sr. Reeta (sister) and Mr. Herald (brother) and all family members

(An edited version of obituary given by Fr. Dileep Marandi during the Funeral Mass in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Jamshedpur on December 1, 2014.)

News Report:
Dainik Jagaran:
http://epaper.jagran.com/ePaperArticle/02-dec-2014-edition-jamshedpur-page_19-18938-5385-151.html

Prabhat Khabar
epaper.prabhatkhabar.com/c/3975924

Death is a beginning of New Life

Is 25: 6-9  A Royal Banquet at the mountain of the Lord (God has destroyed death for ever at this event. Therefore, put your hope in Him, for he has wiped our tears from our cheek)

I Cor 15: 10-12 what I am now, it is through the grace of God. I have worked hard than all the others.

John 17: 16-24 The Prayer of Jesus, a prayer of offering and intercession (they do not belong to this world, but to the world eternal. God has given us everything though the grace of God, through our parents, for god loved us before the foundation of the world).

Death is an adventure

Death is a series of adventures and concludes with the greatest adventure of all. When we accomplish our part in partaking in the adventures of life, we must place our hands into the hands of God who made us, and must be ready to go willingly and joyfully where God wants us to be. To all death seems to be final thing and therefore are afraid to encounter it. An Indian sage explains death beautifully, “Death is not extinguishing the light, but putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”

Three imageries

As I reflect on my mother’s death, three imageries come to my mind:

                    i.      Three crosses on the hillside of Calvary

                  ii.      Leaves falling from a tree

                iii.      Ripe mango falling from the tree

All three things are very much applicable to this beautiful death. Cross at the Calvary symbolize suffering, pain, loneliness and, lostness in the world. Leaves falling from a tree symbolize the old age, the reality of death itself which cannot be negated. The ripe fruit (mango) falling from the tree symbolize the ‘fruitfulness’ of life. Life is fully formed on this earth, is ripe, fruitful and is ready multiply as the seed is ready to die and give new life for the next generation. Children, grand-children and the loved-once who shared in the joy and happiness with her are around her to say – ‘thank you’, ‘we love you’, ‘we care for you’, ‘farewell’ and ‘final good bye’ to you.

Dying is to intercede for others

This is not the time to beat our breasts and weep, but the time to rejoice as we are people of faith. John 10:1 says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you.” Indeed these words are true. Throughout His life, Jesus was busy tending and mending people by means of preaching, guiding, healing, praying and caretaking. I am sure, my mother too did similar acts of charity. She took care of us, taught us by words, deeds and examples. He taught us to pray and above all made us what we are today. She has gone to live with Jesus, in the room which Jesus has prepared for her. It is very much sure, she would prepare the rooms for all of us, her children, as the mother likes to take care of her children.

Elders are source of blessing and grace

My mother knew the secret of living well in both worlds: this world and the other world. This world is nothing but the image of the other world. Every day was a Eucharistic day, day of supreme act of sacrifice. “Blessed are you Lord God of all creation, through your goodness I have my sons and daughters, my neighbours and relatives...” was her everyday prayer. Her attendance for mass, daily rosaries and prayer for her children are nothing but the Eucharistic offering. The fruit of which she received here on earth: Children being religious, especially priests who is closer to her. Her own long life itself is a sign of blessing from God and part of God’s general plan of salvation. The Book of Proverb (16:31) says: "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life." Book of Deuteronomy 5:33 says, "Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper and have a long life in the land you will possess." 

Death of our parents, a day of thanksgiving for the supreme act of sacrifice

The ripe fruit falling from the tree tickles my mind. Hers’ is the life of accomplishment, “It is finished” now. The Lord said, “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink…” And they could not remember ever having done this. And then the Lord said, “I tell you solemnly, insofar as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” As we are going bid farewell to my mother, we hardly notice what our mother did to us. These things were not newsworthy. They were the realities of their daily living. Everyone came from the womb of our mothers. And we were clothed; and it is our mothers who clothed us. We came home hungry and thirsty. And our parents were there to give us food and drink. We were sick and our parents nursed us. And if it should ever be our misfortune to go to prison, though friends might forsake us, we may be sure that our parents would visit us. All of us came as strangers and we were all welcomed into a happy home. How marvelous is this reality that it is our mothers who do this!

The Lord of Hosts had arranged a banquet at the mountain top and has invited all the rich people. The mountain is the altar of the Lord. Rich people are the people of good-will spiritually rich people. It is the day of rejoice for God has destroyed death for ever. It is an invitation to THANK. It is an invitation to thank the Lord, to thank the mother and thank all who were part of her life.

Today she is proud and might liked to express the same words like St. Paul who before departure from this world said, “I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come for me now is the crown of unrighteousness which the Lord, the upright judge will give me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.” Amen.