Venkat Raman
Thousands of people from across the world paid their tributes to Wenceslaus Anthony, a New Zealand-based businessman, community worker and philanthropist, on the first Anniversary of his death on Monday, July 23, 2018.
Mass in Auckland
The tributes came as messages, emails, and Facebook postings to Indian Newslink, and members of the family of Mr Anthony.
Mr Anthony passed away in Chennai on July 23, 2017 after battling for life for four days following a multiple-organ failure at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai.
In Auckland, more than 300 people attended the First Year Memorial Eucharistic Celebration held on Sunday, July 22, 2018 at St John Vianney Church, 317 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough.
Service in Chennai
A small group of people, comprising the extended family of Mr Anthony and his close associates and friends attended a Special First Anniversary Prayer at his Tomb at the cemetery in Chennai on the morning of July 23, 2018.
Among them were Mr Anthony’s wife Susan, their daughter Sneha and son Akash.
His brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces from Britain, Canada, Dubai, Chennai, Kolkata and Kerala including Alphonsa Marie, Michael Anthony, Margaret, Selvina Cecilia, Dr Mario Victor, the Tharakan family (Nina, Sutha, Jacob and Lolly, Mammen and Mary).
There were also a few friends from Auckland present at the Memorial Services led by Reverend Father Casimir Raj (Retired Director of the Loyola Institute of Business Administration), St Joseph’s College Bengaluru Principal Reverend Father Victor Lobo and others.
Mass at Loyola Church
Later in the evening, Most Reverend Peter Remigius, Bishop Emeritus of Kottar led the Mass, marking the first anniversary of the passing of Wenceslaus Anthony at a Special Service held at the Loyola College Chapel located at the Loyola College.
Father Casimir Raj and Father Victor Lobo were among those who conducted the Mass, attended by more than 300 people from all over the world.
Tributes at Special Meetings
At a special dinner arranged on Monday, July 23, 2018. at Abu Sarovar Portico in Kilpauk, tributes were paid to Mr Anthony by Father Casimir Raj, TP Jain, Father Lionel, Nikhil (Mr Anthony’s Godson) and this reporter.
About 100 men and women attended a dinner reception held to facilitate Dr Casimir Raj on his 80th Birthday at Taj Club House Hotel (located on Club House Road, off Anna Salai) on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.
Among the speakers at the event were Father Casimir Raj, Father Victor Lobo, Father James Santhanam, Father Joe Anthony, Father Valerian D’Souza, Father Dass, Retired Director General of Police Dr K Radhakrishnan, Dr Jebamalai Vinanchiarachi, Prince Kumar, Sneha Anthony and this reporter.
Father Casimir Raj launched, ‘The Poverty of Economic Thinking,’ a book written by Dr Jebamalai, dedicated to Mr Anthony and sponsored by Indian Newslink, which was later distributed to all guests.
Mr Antony’s son Akash Anthony was the Master of Ceremonies at both events.
The Reporter wrote in his earlier dispatch: “This day (July 23) last year (2017), he left us to be with our Maker. Dear God, Let Wenceslaus Anthony remain under your care and love forever because that is what he deserves; for he loved many and cared for many people when he was in this world. Today we cry near his Tomb in Chennai, India because his absence is causing us pain. But someday, we know that we will join you again forever.
Please God, relieve us from this separation and take me unto You, and unto him.
This is the First Anniversary of the Transition of Wenceslaus Anthony from a bitter world to a better world.”
