In another press release by the Bishop of Kohima, very Rev James Thoppil, Rev Fr Manoj was on his way to Nagaland via Aizawl to meet his friends but had to go into isolation due to the existing COVID-19 protocol, it said.
Though he got COVID negative report, he suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital but declared dead, it added. As per the release, medical report showed that he had a history of heart problems. Rev Fr Manoj Manuel is survived by his mothers and brothers.
"Fr Manoj, born on 3 July 1976 and ordained for the Diocese of Kohima Nagaland on 5 January 2005, had been working in Australia for the past three years. Initially on appointment in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes at Warren, and then Narromine, Trangie and Peak Hill Parishes. Fr Manoj joined us in the Diocese of Broken Bay in January 2021 and had served at the Cathedral Parish of Hornsby until his new appointment to the Parish of Wahroonga in December 2021."
The press release from Hornby Cathedral Parish quoted
Though decisions about his funeral in India has not been released, Hornby Cathedral Parish announced via their Facebook page that A MEMORIAL MASS for Fr Manoj Manuel will be celebrated at OLOR Cathedral on Friday, 28 January at 11.00 am.
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