PICTURES:
Vivat Deus Unus et Trinus in Cordibus Nostris
Pie in Domino defunctus est
+ Fr. Victor Noronha, SVD
1938 - 2017
Pioneer of the Botswana Province
first superior of SVD Botswana
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Please, feel free to use the guest book as the condolence book. Share with us the memories of Fr. Victor.
Dear Friends,

With great sadness I would like to inform you that our beloved confrere, Fr. Victor Noronha, is no more with us.
He died during the night, probably early morning, on the 2nd January 2017, in Selebi-Phikwe.
On the 1st January he spoke with many on the phone, wishing all a happy New Year. Little later he went home.
On the other hand there is joy rooted in our faith that the real life just started.
We also celebrate life of a missionary priest who stayed in the frontier to the very end.
Fr. Victor was known by many people, he had many friends. His reconciliatory character and tolerance was his mark that many people appreciated and admired.
We thank God for his fulfilled missionary life in the Society of the Divine Word, we thank Him for all goodness we experienced through him.
We ask our merciful Father to forgive all his human mistakes and sins and to welcome Fr. Victor into eternal happiness in heaven.

Fr. Mareko Marciniak, svd
Provincial
FUNERAL INFORMATION

FRIDAY, 6th January 2017
1.The Body of Fr. Victor will be transported from Selebi-Phikwe and arrives in Francistown, at St. James Parish, at
about 1:00 p.m. The coffin will not be opened. St. James Parish prepares their own prayer to say goodbye to
their former parish priest.
2.3:30 p.m. the body will be transported to the Provincial House of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) – opposite
Dumela Lodged, 600m after Ngilichi housing development.
4.00 p.m. there will be a prayer of the SVD and SSpS only at the Provincial House.
3.4:20 p.m. the body will be taken to Our Lady Of the Desert (OLD) Cathedral
4.At 5:00 p.m. – Eucharist in OLD Cathedral. The main celebrant will be the Right Rev. Bishop Valentine of
Gaborone.
5.After the Mass there will be a possibility to pay respect to Fr. Victor’s remains, the coffin will be open till 9:45 p.m.
During this time between the Mass and the night vigil at 10 p.m. there will be people on duty guarding the coffin.
6.10:00 p.m. beginning of the night vigil.
We will start with the office prayer (so called breviary), official prayer of the Church, prepared by the SSpS
sisters. The prayers will be projected on the screen for all to participate.
7.After the office prayer different sodalities, groups, parishes could lead us in prayer. During this time there will be a
possibility for all to share their memories of Fr. Victor. Fr. Mosalagae Ngwenya will be coordinating the liturgical
celebrations and the participation in the night vigil.

SATURDAY, 7th January 2017
1.5:00 – 5:30 a.m. pono ya moswi – the coffin will be open for the last time but only for 30 minutes for those who
could not pay the respect on Friday evening.
2.5:30 a.m. there will be short speeches (max 5 min):
-Sebina representative
-OLD representative
-Selebi-Phikwe representative
-St. James representative
-Priests representative
-Women Religious representative
-Possible Family of Fr. Victor representative
-SVD story of Fr. Victor will be read
3.6:00 a.m. We will celebrate the Funeral Mass for Fr. Victor. Once the liturgy commences there will be no
interruptions for speeches till the funeral service is over at the graveyard. The main celebrant will be the Right
Rev. Bishop Frank of Francistown.
4.Immediately after the Eucharist the funeral rites begin in the Cathedral. The coffin will be transported directly to the
cemetery of the Provincial House of the SVD.
5.The burial ritual continues at the grave.
6.After the final blessing the food will be served for all participating.

The weather forecast is worrisome - a lot of rain for Friday and Saturday. So, Please pray for good weather during the funeral and in case bring umbrellas.

Fr. Mareko

This page was last updated: January 10, 2017
SVD BOTSWANA