THE STAR DISAPPEARS BUT THE LIGHT REMAINS
Saji Manalel
Mayur Vihar Phase-III
Tuesday, the 21st of June 2000 curtained the end of an era with the untimely death of His Grace Most Reverend Alan de Lastic, Archbishop of Delhi and President of the Catholic Bishop�s Conference of India, in a road accident in Poland.
With his sad demise not only the Christian community in India but also the people of all religions in India have lost a dynamic, social and spiritual leader. Archbishop Alan de Lastic laboured ardently in the field of communal harmony, love and peace. His simple lifestyle associated with dedicated devotion in the Almighty made him a person of unique calibre.
His affair towards the poor and his contribution in the field of education, socio-economic development and national integration will be ever remembered.
As a priest, Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop and Archbishop, he could expand his fame by getting his name imprinted, not only in the memory of the people of this era but also in the books of the history. Besides, he associated himself wholeheartedly with tremendously responsible positions like Secretary General and President of the Catholic Bishops� Conference of India (CBCI), Member of the Federation of Asian Bishop�s conference for the Laity, Member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in Rome, Member of the National Integration Council, National Coordinator for the Apostolic Visitation of the Ecclesiastical Faculties, Major Seminaries and Institutes of priestly Formation in India and Member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum for Human and Christian Development. While considering his invaluable contribution to the human race, the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee expressly stated that the departed Archbishop was really "A Man of God".
As a parishioner of the Mother of Perpetual Succour Church in Mayur Vihar Phase-III, I have much more in my mind about our beloved Archbishop. The people of Mayur Vihar Phase-III have had several opportunities of being blessed by the departed Archbishop. He established a full-fledged school in our locality with the help of the IBMV Sisters. He sanctioned a Mass Center too. It is thanks to these facilities that the area got developed substantially. The loveliest and most shining picture in our memory is of his last visit to Mayur Vihar Phase-III in December 1999 for the inauguration of the new school building.
The divine image of Most Rev. Alan de Lastic shines really brightly in the minds of his children in Mayur Vihar Phase-III. We praise and thank God for having provided us with this son of His to serve the human race and particularly the Catholic Church in India.
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