Dr Joseph Victor Gonsalves. KCHS,15th October 2020, R.I.P
Dr Joseph Victor Gonsalves. KCHS 17th May 1942 – 15th October 2020
I regret to inform you that Brother Joe Gonsalves died on 15th October 2020.
Joe was born in Goa, the youngest of five children, two brothers and two sisters. His father’s work as a customs officer took the family to Bombay (now Mumbai) where Joe attended school and completed his national service. After graduation with a degree in chemistry he found his vocation in medicine and moved to Kenya with the family in the early 1970’s. In 1973, en route for a hospital position in Canada, he found himself temporarily at Sefton General Hospital, Liverpool. It was there that he met his future wife Catherine, a lovely nurse from Carlow, and they were married in October 1976. They have two fine sons, Philip and Simon.
Joe’s medical service included several specialisms. These included Gynaecology, Cardiology, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Nephrology, and Dermatology. He served as a GP in south Liverpool from 1980 onwards, eventually building his own practice at Fulwood Green. He also served for several years on various community service bodies in the city. As a doctor lending his expertise to the Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes he was loved by many, helpers and pilgrims alike.
His dedication to his family and to medicine was matched by his great love of his Faith. He was an active parishioner of St Thomas More/St Charles for many years. Another of his great loves was Everton F C and it was at Goodison Park that the late Michael Sampson sowed the seeds for Joe’s interest in the Catenians. Subsequently he met other Catenians at Lourdes and at his annual holiday retreat on Madeira. In 2007 he joined number 164, South Liverpool Circle.
In 2010 Catherine and Joe made their first pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the Catenians, and his concern for the plight of the Christian community led to his investiture into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 2011, a well-deserved Papal Honour.
Recognised for his concern for others and his generosity of spirit, his gentle humour and warm smile will be missed by all whose lives he touched, especially his family and friends.
Please pray for Catherine, Philip and Simon and their families.
