UPDATE: A commemoration service will be held in Auckland towards the end of August, details of which will be published later.
Respected Kiwi-Indian businessman and Papal Medal receiver Wenceslaus Anthony passed away on Sunday, July 23 at Apollo Hospital in Chennai,
Mr Anthony had been on a business and holiday trip away from New Zealand for the last eight weeks and had just returned from Israel and Egypt before falling ill.
He was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on Friday, July 21, where he underwent a series of tests. It all started with a kidney failure but ended up in multiple organ failure which led to his untimely demise.
On his trip with his family, Mr Anthony visited several cities in North and South India; he met the then President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe. He also attended his nephew's wedding in Kerala earlier last week.
Mr Anthony was a former co-chairman of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and had accompanied former Prime Minister Sir John Key twice on his official visits to India. He was an integral part of the business delegation to India that fostered establishing stronger trade relationships between the two nations.
Wenceslaus Anthony came to New Zealand in 1999, and with his perseverance and hard work, he started an import-export business that became the turning point of his life. His hard work and honesty rewarded him with a good name in the local and national business community.
Mr Anthony was an ardent community worker and the chairman of the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee. He established the Mother Teresa Interfaith Committee in 2010, on the 100th birth anniversary of Saint Teresa which led it to become an annual event in the community’s calendar.
Mr Anthony received Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II in December 2013 for his services to New Zealand-India relations.
In May 2017, he was conferred the Papal Medal, Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice (Decoration of Honour of the Roman Catholic Church) awarded by Pope Francis.
Dame Lyndsey Freer, a spokesperson of the Bishop of Auckland Catholic Diocese, pinned the medal on Mr Anthony in the presence of a large gathering at St Mary’s Church in Auckland. Vicar General Bernard Kiely presented the framed citation.
Mr Anthony is survived by his wife Susan, son Akash and daughter Sneha who were with him in his last moments along with his relatives.
High Commissioner of India in New Zealand, His Excellency Sanjiv Kohli, has expressed his condolences.
"It is a great loss for the family and the community. I and the High Commission have lost a dear friend and a solid support. May God grant strength to the family and peace to the departed soul," Mr Kohli said.
Prime Minister Bill English also conveyed his condolences as he said, "My thoughts are with his family and friends.
His associates and friends in Auckland are distraught and praying for his family. Early in the week, many political leaders from all sides of the political spectrum asked about his well-being from The Indian Weekender's publisher who was a very close friend of Wency – as he was affectionately called.
His funeral was conducted on Wednesday, July 26 in Chennai.
The Indian Weekender would like to extend its heartiest condolences to Mr Anthony's family.
