MANGALORE: Vincent Martis, the parish priest of St. Antony Church, Sastan, died on Tuesday in a road accident near Mount Abu in Rajasthan, according to reports reaching here. He was 61. He was travelling with his family members to his sister’s place in Rajasthan when the accident occurred. Fr. Martis was born in Belman in 1949. He was ordained as priest on October 25, 1974 and had served in the Diocese of Mangalore as priest for over 35 years.

He had also served as an expert in the building committee of the diocese.

Fr. Martis’ friends remember him as someone who knew his work and responsibilities, and was always keen on completing the task at hand with utmost perfection.

He is credited for building the Fatima Church at Mundkur, the school building, hall and business complex at Sastan, and establishment of St. Antony CBSC English Medium School at Sastan.

The funeral mass is scheduled at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Sastan church.

The mortal remains will be interred at the Sastan cemetery.

The Bishop of the Mangalore Diocese, Aloysius Paul D’Souza, and vicar-general of the diocese Denis Prabhu have condoled the death of Fr. Martis.