“Fr. Alfred Roche was firmly anchored in God; consequently, there was a glow of joy in his face. He visited families of Brahmavar, Barkur and Sastan often, availed himself to administer Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick, and even reclaimed many former Catholics from the schismatic Syrian community,” says Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary in Karnataka. 

In fact, the God-centeredness of Fr. Alfred Roche was the secret of every success in his apostolate, beginning with his fraternal service in the novitiate at Monte Mariano, Farangipet (diocese of Mangalore). Fr. Bertrand D’Cunha OFM Cap testifies: “My contact with Fr. Alfred Roche was limited to just one year.... It was at the novitiate house, Farangipet, when I was a novice.... The first thing that struck me about Fr. Roche was his love for prayer. Apart from his community prayers, he was also found to pray on his knees in his own room when free of any other work/duty. In the evenings every day we had to go to him for Benedicite (blessing) before starting work, and he was on his knees praying. An inspiration for us novices, for he was our vice-novice master.”  

Following the life-pattern of the Master, who was constantly in communion with the Father (cf. Mk 6, 46; Lk 6, 12), Fr. Alfred Roche used to begin his day with prayer. Sr. Hilaria Montero from Sacred Heart Convent, which is next to the Holy Family Church, Brahmavar (diocese of Udupi), bears witness to this: “Fr. Roche would get up early for his prayers and when we went for the Mass we could see him in his pew bent in prayer. He would spend some time in the confessional before mass; the offering of mass evoked devotion.”  

Similarly, as the parish priest of St. Anne’s Church, Binaga (diocese of Karwar), Fr. Alfred’s sermons, deeply based on the Word of God, touched the hearts of his flock and a few families, who were rarely coming to the church, began to participate in the Eucharistic Liturgy regularly. Mr. Peter Gonsalves, a parishioner, sheds light on this: “He used to spend hours in the confessional with great sacrifices and inconveniences.... In a way, his life was like that of St. Francis of Assisi – a life of Beatitudes, a total dedication to his mission. For me, he was a good guide who changed my spiritual life totally.” 

The last parish where Fr. Alfred Roche offered his pastoral service was St. Joseph’s Church, Lower Kasarkod (diocese of Karwar). Once again, his focus was on faith-formation with special emphasis on Eucharistic Devotion. Mr. Francis Rodrigues bears witness to this: “When Fr. Alfred was celebrating Mass, I used to feel that God is speaking to us and we are speaking to God. On Sundays and other special occasions, I was enthusiastic even to participate in three Masses.” This was the devout life of devout pastor Fr. Alfred Roche.