A Catholic priest, who had gone beyond his priestly duties to fight illegal land grabbers and promote peace and communal harmony even at risk to his safety, died July 25 after a prolonged illness. Father Francis D’Britto of the western Indian Vasai diocese was known for his involvement in public movements such as the Harit (green) Vasai initiative to promote environmental sustainability and green practices. The death occurred at his home in Vasai, some 60 km north of Mumbai. He was 81. He was born December 4, 1942, to Marathi-speaking parents, in Girij, a tiny Vasai village. After studies in St. Pius, a Goregaon seminary, he was ordained a priest on December 23rd 1972, for the Bombay arch-diocese. He had also served as the spokesperson for Vasai diocese in the 2000s.