BATHALAPALLY: The mortal remains of Father Vincent Ferrer, the man who served the needy and poor of this region for over five decades, were laid to rest with full State honours at the Rural Development Trust (RDT) hospital compound.
Religious heads from the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities led the prayers. Spanish priests of the Jesuist order conducted the last rites in which Fr Ferrer’s wife Anne Ferrer and son Manchu Ferrer and other members of the family participated.
People lined up on both sides of the road all along the 25 km stretch from Anantapur to Bathalapally, to pay respects to the departed humanist being carried on a flower-decked platform. Crowds swarmed the RDT Hospital compound and broke into unconsolable sobs.
Special barricades were erected for the lakhs of people to have the last glimpse of their beloved Father. True to Fr Ferrer’s philosophy, RDT members made arrangements for the supply of food packets and drinking water to the people.
Spain Parliament’s Speaker Jose Bono Martinez represented Spain Fr Ferrer’s country of origin. Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, ZP Chairperson T Kavitha, MP A Venkatarami Reddy, Government Whip Sailajanath, Legislative Council whip Y Sivarami Reddy, legislators B Gurunatha Reddy, K Madhusudhan Gupta, P Sunitha, P Raghunatha Reddy, MLC Thippe Swamy, DCCB chairman T Kona Reddy, Chavva Rajasekhara Reddy, District Collector B Janardhan Reddy, District SP MK Singh, Kadapa District Collector Sashibhushan Kumar, Anantapur Mayor R Parasuram, DCC president Patil Venugopala Reddy, MRPS president Manda Krishna Madiga and a host of other dignatories attended the last rites.
The police fired three rounds in air as a mark of respect for the departed soul and observed one minute silence after which Manchu Ferrer lowered the senior Ferrer’s coffin.