Fr. Mark Patrick D’Silva was laid to rest at the Clergy Cemetery in Shivamogga.

Shivamogga, April 19, 2026: .

DIOCESE OF SHIMOGA

REV. MARK PATRICK D’SILVA

BORN: 02.07.1947 ORDAINED: 08.11.1972 DIED: 30.01.2026

Funeral ceremony was on February 2, 2026 at 3pm

Fr Mark Patrick D’Silva’s twilight was not a sudden eclipse, but a slow, brave fading. When a persistent numbness claimed his leg, leading to the shadow of necrosis and the trial of amputation at St. John’s

Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, he met his cross with silent fortitude. Though his weary heart flickered at a mere 25%, a spark of divine grace fanned it back to life. But the peace of the Lord is a gentle caller. Three days later, as the day was closing on January 30, 2026 at 6 pm, Death laid its soft hands upon him. He was fully conscious till an hour before his peaceful death and then gently yielded his soul into the waiting arms of His loving Father. Fr Mark D’Silva has passed beyond the veil, leaving behind a silence that echoes with his wisdom and a void in the hearts of all who loved him. This void can only be filled by the hope of the Resurrection. His fifty-three years in the Vineyard of the Lord will be forever cherished.

Fr Mark was born on July 2,1947, to a devout and God-fearing home of the late Mr Ligouri D’Silva and Mrs Alice Aranha in Attur, Karkala. Nurtured by his family’s unwavering faith, he answered the divine call to the priesthood and joined Chickmagalur Diocese. His ordination on November 8, 1972 at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Koppa, was officiated by the Most Rev. Dr Alphonse Mathias. As a dedicated priest Fr Mark was distinguished not only by his service but by his brilliant mind; an erudite scholar, he held a Master of Theology and was widely respected for his sharp intelligence and theological depth.

Fr Mark began his ministry at Mary Immaculate Church, New Town as the Assistant priest, before finding his stride as the Parish Priest of Christ the King Church, Jog Falls. When the Diocese of Shimoga was first envisioned, he made the selfless choice to remain with its people, serving as the In charge Priest of Hosanagar. His pastoral journey came full circle as he later returned to lead Mary Immaculate Church, Bhadravathi and subsequently shepherded the congregations of the Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar and Infant Jesus Church, Sharavathinagar. 

A true pioneer, Fr Mark was a man of “firsts.” He stood as the forerunner and first Director of SMSSS, and he was the first from the Diocese to be appointed Regional Youth Director, igniting the faith of the younger generation. His intellectual depth allowed him to open new avenues of Inter-Religious Dialogue, a mission he carried through Basavapatnam where he was a bridge-builder between faiths and a healer of souls. As a member of Mount St. Joseph, Bangalore, and as a compassionate counsellor at the Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala he carved a niche in the minds and hearts of people. In his twilight years, he became a Resident priest, offering his presence and prayer across various parishes before coming to rest at Vianney Minor Seminary, Bhadravathi where he completed his earthly pilgrimage.

Fr. Mark was more than a priest; he was a cherished member of every family he touched. A sincere soul who lived without masks, he met the world with an authentic heart and generous hand that were always extended to the lost and the least. Simple living and high thinking was his desire. From the pulpit, he offered intellectual gems, sermons that were crisp, profound, and beautifully down-to-earth. Yet his true ministry was found in the homes of his people, where he listened to their woes and offered his strength. 

As a stalwart of Ecumenism and a dedicated leader in the Lions and Rotary Clubs, he moved effortlessly between the sacred and the civic, admired by officials and parishioners alike for his integrity. He was, in the truest sense, a “Man for Others,” a bridge-builder who saw no strangers, but only brothers and sisters performed for applause, it was clandestine and selfless, a quiet stream of support that enabled others to flourish while he remained content in the shadows.

Therefore, as we now bid a sorrowful farewell to a fine human being, a good priest, we do not so much, mourn his death but celebrate a life lived well, fruitfully and faithfully in God’s service and in pastoral ministry and thank God for giving us a privilege of knowing and loving a true and faithful servant of the Gospel. May his soul rest in peace.

+Duming Dias

Apostolic Administrator