Fr Peixotto, missionary and great educator, passes away (VIDEO)
Dhaka mourns Father Joseph Stephen Peixotto, an American Holy Cross missionary and a former rector of Notre Dame College. For Father Cruze, “He offered quality education to everyone in this country, regardless of ethnicity, religion or caste.”
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Father Joseph Stephen Peixotto, an American Holy Cross missionary and a great educator, passed away yesterday in Dhaka at the age of 87. After almost 60 years in the South Asian country, he came down with COVID-19 last year and his health remained very fragile.
Card Patrick D’Rosario, Archbishop emeritus of Dhaka, celebrated the funeral today. After the service, Fr Peixotto’s remains were taken to the Holy Cross Retreat and Pastoral Centre in Bhadun, Gazipur, where he had asked to be laid to rest.
A native of San Francisco, after his priestly ordination he arrived in 1962 in what was then East Pakistan. For 34 years he taught science and for 24 served as rector of Notre Dame College in Dhaka, the school of Holy Cross missionaries, considered one of the best in Bangladesh. Since 2014 he was appointed as treasurer of the same university.
For James Cruze, provincial superior for Bangladesh of the Holy Cross congregation, “Father Peixotto was a true missionary. He offered quality education to everyone in this country, regardless of ethnicity, religion or caste. Through Notre Dame College he helped the whole educational system of Bangladesh by working with both government institutions and the Archdiocese of Dhaka. “
His passion for education was one of the aspects of his big heart. Every time Bangladesh was faced with natural disasters, he stood by the people most in need.
“I was with him many times to bring aid, “ said Father Cruze. “In 1988, during a severe flood, he managed to organise every day food distribution for 1,600 people left with nothing. He also helped financially many seminarians who are priests today. And many others who continue to offer their contribution to the Church and to society. “
Yesterday many former students, including Muslims, paid homage to him. “Father Peixotto was my guide, “ said one of them, Ahmad Mir, a Muslim. “From him I learnt punctuality, discipline and many moral teachings that have helped me in my professional life. I pray the Almighty that I too can pass these lessons to future generations."
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29/01/2024 16:56
