Father Berthold Anton Pareira was widely known as an expert on the Old Testament. (Photo: Screenshot of a livestreamed prayer for Father Pareira’s soul on YouTube)
By Katharina R Lestari, Jakarta
Jan 13 2021
Father Berthold Pareira spent much of his life as an educator at Widya Sasana School of Philosophy and Theology
Catholics in Indonesia are mourning the death of an 81-year-old Carmelite priest who was widely known as an expert on the Old Testament.
Father Berthold Anton Pareira died of a heart attack on Jan. 8 at the Catholic-run Panti Waluya Hospital in Malang, East Java province.
He was buried on Jan. 10 at the Sukun Christian Cemetery in the city following a requiem Mass in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral Church led by Carmelite Bishop Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan of Malang.
He was “a simple and charming figure who was close to everyone,” said Vincentian Father Fransiskus Xaverius Eko Armada Riyanto, the rector of Widya Sasana School of Philosophy and Theology (STFT Widya Sasana) in Malang, where Father Pareira lectured for many years.
“All his students have been touched, motivated, educated and prayed for by him. Each has inherited his spirit of love and will continue his ideals,” he told UCA News.
“His service as a lecturer was a career which ended with love and simplicity instead of luxury,” he said.
“Now his love becomes a lantern which will always light up STFT Widya Sasana and our hearts, wherever we are.”
Father Pareira was born on June 13, 1939, in Maumere, in predominantly Catholic East Nusa Tenggara province.
He joined the Order of Carmelites, the first person from Flores to do so, in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1966.
According to him, Father Pareira taught his students through his exemplary life of prayer instead of words.
“His service as a lecturer was a career which ended with love and simplicity instead of luxury,” he said.
“Now his love becomes a lantern which will always light up STFT Widya Sasana and our hearts, wherever we are.”
Father Pareira was born on June 13, 1939, in Maumere, in predominantly Catholic East Nusa Tenggara province.
He joined the Order of Carmelites, the first person from Flores to do so, in 1959 and was ordained a priest in 1966. – UCANews
