Jesuit Father Vernon Buyser remembered during memorial service

Lahore, Pakistan: May 25, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

“The Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-Akbar had invited Jesuits from Goa in the 16th century to broaden the vision of his courtiers and they came and had discussion told about Jesus Christ. After his son and later Mughal kings could not keep to this tradition of inter-religious dialogue”. Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha was talking to the 20 priests ,sisters and the laity gathered at the Sacred Heart Cathedral during the memorial service of Fr. Vernon Buyser who slept in the Lord on the 5th of May in Sri Lanka.           

Archbishop appreciated the services of Fr. Buyser in the fields of housing for 100 Muslims and Christians in Syden Shah Basti, his educational services in building up the schools in Samanabad parish and dedicated pastoral work. He asked the priests present to continue his mission of working for the -development of poor, promotion on inter-religious dialogue and shepherding the faithful. The former Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lahore Fr. Emmanuel Yousaf Mani said that he had a great admiration for Fr. Buyser as he was a simple priest traveling by the motor cycle and tirelessly worked for the education for the poor. He said that though very intelligent, Fr. Buyser was humble to listen to the people with a listening heart. He said that he gave the orientation toads the higher education for our youth and his mission should be carried on. Fr. Jacob Fernando SJ the companion of late Fr. Buyer said that he has been with his from also fifty years. Fr. Jacob said when  he was a seminary Fr. Buyer mad his final profession. When he was ordained that Fr. Buyser was his superior. He came to Pakistan in 1977 while Fr. Jacob followed him in 1981.He said that both the priests went for house to house for their visit to come to know the real needs of the faithful and they discovered that the education was the post import to be detail with and they opened basti schools for this pose and till date the Jesuits are working in the Samanadabad parish for a good education.   

Sr. Sophia Patras SCJM related how he was a fatherly figure and conduced several retreats and was as good councilor. She said that Fr. Buyer had a great love for Pakistani church that is all his leaders from Sri Lanka he always expressed his ws to come back. Fr. Imran John, the first Pakistani Jesuit told that Fr. Buyser came to the dioce4se in 1978 and left 1999 back to Sri Lanka.