Official funeral for Bishop deSouza
Published:Monday | December 28, 2015 | 12:00 AM
The Government has announced that the late former Bishop of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Right Reverend Dr Neville Wordsworth deSouza, who is to be buried today, has been accorded an official funeral.
The thanksgiving service for DeSouza, who died on December 12, will be held at the St Andrew Parish Church, starting at 11 a.m.
In a statement yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister noted that The Most Rev Dr John Holder, Archbishop of the province of the West Indies, will lead the proceedings and The Rev Howard Gregory, Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, will give the sermon.
Musical tributes will precede the service, starting at 10 a.m., and will include items from the Kingston College Chapel choir, the Glenmuir High School choir, the Diocesan Festival Choir and the Jamaican Folk Singers.
Among those slated to attend the service are bishops and clergy from overseas as well as clergy and laity from across the diocese.
Shuttle service
Shuttles to the church will be provided, starting at 9:15 a.m. and interment will be at the church cemetery where all native diocesan bishops are interred.
DeSouza, who was born in Jackson Town, Trelawny, and was known for his outspokenness, died at his home in Mandeville after a long illness.
He steered the ministry of the Church for 21 years until his retirement in 2000. He was ordained a deacon in 1958, became a priest in 1959 and was the fourth Jamaican to ever lead the local Church.
He was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Montego Bay in 1973 and was enthroned as Diocesan Bishop in 1979.