Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong, India and Fr. Mathew Vellankal died in a car crash Oct. 10 during a visit to the Diocese of Oakland.
The visiting archbishop and two local priests’ Toyota Prius was hit by a tractor-trailer truck on a California highway in Wilbur Springs at 2:20pm on Oct. 10, according to California Highway Patrol.
Fr. Joseph Parekkatt, pastor of St. Anne Parish, survived the crash with injuries and is in stable condition at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Fr. Vellankal, pastor of St. Bonaventure in Concord, and Archbishop Jala, both died at the scene of the accident.
Jala, 68, served as the archbishop of Shillong, India for the past 19 years and was apostolic administrator of Nongstoin, India since 2016.
The Indian archbishop was visiting the U.S. to attend the meeting of the International Commission for English Liturgy, according to the Archdiocese of Shillong.
Fr. Vellankal, 58, was a Salesian priest born from Kerala, India, who had served as a parish priest in the Diocese of Oakland since 2001. He wrote a book in 2005, “From Humor to Inspiration: Jokes, Reflections and Quotes to Enliven Your Day.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
May God rest their souls.
May Fr. Parekkatt have a full recovery.
May God Rest Their Souls.
God rest their beautiful souls
Réquiem ætérnam dona eis Dómine
Et lux perpétua lucéat eis
Fidélium ánimæ per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace
Amen
“Eternal rest grant to them, O lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
And may the injured be healed in both body and soul. Amen.