National Level Seung Hwa Ceremony

for

Rev. Godwin D'Silva

January 2, 1958 - February 12, 2007

February 16, 2007

Los Angeles

Prepared by Joy I. Garratt

            In a Seunghwa service characterized by tears, laughter, poetry and fond yet honest recollections, more than 300 family members, friends, local dignitaries and ministers gathered to celebrate the life of Rev. Godwin M. D’Silva at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 16 at the Los Angeles Peace Family Church in Temple City, California.

 

 

In the sanctuary where he had given so many sermons over the years, Godwin was surrounded by beautiful flower tributes from Hyun Jin nim and his wife Jun Sook nim, church leaders from throughout the country, and friends made over his many years working in the greater Los Angeles area. Not only was his beloved wife Darlene, daughter Priya, and son Urian present, but his mother Christina from Malaysia attended along with two of his sisters and their families who live in the United States.

 

   

 

Keith McCarthy, a veteran of numerous Ambassadors for Peace events produced together with Godwin, opened the Seunghwa service as MC, invoking the spirit of God with his prayer and calling the congregation to join the LA choir, Origin, in song.

Representing the national headquarters, Rev. Levy Daugherty, vice president of FFWPU and secretary general of ACLC, gave a beautiful and moving special message. One of Godwin’s greatest and proudest moments, Rev. Daugherty recalled, was walking up a circular stairway to present a crown of India to True Parents at the opening of the CheongGyeong Palace Museum. Rev. Daugherty likened those steps to the journey we each take in our lives, a journey that leads us all to our Heavenly Father in the spiritual realm, and a journey that Godwin will pioneer for us. Rev. Sheri Rueter then read a poem entitled “God Win, Godwin!!” written by Rev. Bento Leal and presented by Bento to Godwin during the final week of his life on earth.

            After a prayer by friend Rev. Kevin Thompson and the reading of Godwin’s biography by Rev. Nate Windman, one of Godwin’s five siblings, Annet O’Mara, gave a touching and humorous eulogy recounting the experiences of growing up with Godwin, who was the eldest. In their native Malaysia where they were raised by their devout Roman Catholic parents, Godwin would sometimes play “church” with his siblings. Annet asked with a twinkle in her eye, “Guess who played the priest who told us we had to obey him since he was the eldest?” Annet and her husband then led the congregation in singing “Be Still and Know that I am God” based on Psalm 46:10.

 

      

Front row, from left, Godwin's daughter, Priya; his son, Urian; his mother, Christina; and his wife, Darlene.

 

            Amarjit “AJ” Tahkar, who met Godwin when they both joined the Unification Church in England in 1979, and who was also of Asian Indian descent, shared anecdotes of their early experiences together, especially in coming to America in 1980 as missionaries and finally living near each other in Alhambra, CA. A third testimony came from long-time friend Andy Weiss, who had frequently traveled with Godwin to Korea and met him for the first time at the Los Angeles Holy Ground at Griffith Park many years ago.

            At Godwin’s special request, Rick Joswick performed “Someday My Love” with Origin, followed by an inspiring slide show of Godwin’s life featuring his early years, his providential missions, and heart-warming photos of his family.

            District 12 director Rev. Timothy Henning delivered the Seung Hwa Message entitled “A Graduation with Honors.” Rev. Henning commented that “we are sending Godwin to the ultimate college, a higher level than even Oxford (which Godwin attended) or any seminary. He is graduating with honors. Let us resolve to carry forward his legacy for us and make this moment the start of a new level of love.”

 

       

                           Rev. Timothy Henning, District 12 director

            Before the final ceremony in which those gathered individually paid their last respects to Godwin, Darlene, his wife, spoke with poignancy and dignity thanking all who had visited Godwin and helped care for him during his final weeks at the hospital and in hospice care at home. She reminded everyone that Godwin would continue to have great expectations for them as well as for his family.

            Godwin’s won jeon then took place at a beautiful local cemetery, Live Oak Memorial Park, Monrovia, in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley. As the afternoon sun warmed everyone’s bodies, the final songs, prayers and remembrances warmed people’s hearts. Following the ceremony, family and friends gathered to share anecdotes and memories over lunch at Pasadena House, where Godwin had worked for many years.  

Godwin passed away after a two year battle with colon cancer. Until his final moments, he sought to encourage brothers and sisters in their spiritual lives. He also sought to ask the forgiveness of anyone whom he had hurt during the course of his working life and ministries.

Darlene and her children, Priya and Urian, want to thank all the families and brothers and sisters for their prayers and support. Darlene says, “For those brothers and sisters who weren’t able to attend the Seunghwa, we felt your prayers, we felt your love. Thank you!”

            You can send gifts, letters, or anecdotes of Godwin to his family at 1604 Acacia Street, #B, Alhambra, CA 91801

 

Annet D'Silva O'Mara (Godwin's sister)

GOD WIN, GODWIN!!

When I think of God

And all the troubles

He's been in,

I just want to tell Him,

“Win, God, Win!"

Though there's still much darkness

Throughout the land,

And He wonders about His Heavenly Plan

I just have to shout out,

"Win, God, Win!"

And when He looks

Down from on high,

And wonders if there's anyone,

On whom He can rely,

I simply point to the man

Who’ll make Him grin,

And say,

"There he is, Lord,

Godwin, Godwin!"

With such a son,

To dry His tears,

And quench His thirst,

And allay His fears,

A smile breaks

Upon His face

And gives Him hope

About this place.

"Yes, you're right,"

He says with a grin,

"I have my dear son,

Godwin, Godwin!”

For Dear Brother Godwin D’Silva

by Bento Leal

February 7, 2007

Rev. Godwin M. D’Silva

Brief Biography

January 2, 1958 to February 12, 2007

Godwin Macarius D’Silva was born on January 2, 1958, to George D’Silva and Christina Fernandez D’Silva in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His parents, natives of India, had moved to Malaysia for his father’s job. The oldest of six children, Godwin was soon followed by Lourette, Susan, Bernard, Annet and Cameila. Raised in the Roman Catholic faith, Godwin attended high school at Victoria Institution, a prestigious prep school and the oldest school in Kuala Lumpur. He won a scholarship to Oxford University where he majored in computer science and sought to understand the deeper meaning of life. In 1979, he met Ralph Latchman of the Unification Church. After studying the principles and deeply praying and mediating, he joined the church on September 16^th and moved into the Oxford CARP Student Center where he lived for two years.

In 1980 Godwin came to the United States in order to serve as a missionary. Through participating on a mobile fundraising team and witnessing in Ohio and New York City, he came to deeply understand the challenges people faced both individually and collectively in their lives and made a deep commitment to working in America. In 1982, after working for Master Marine for a brief period, he brought his practical skills in finance to a job as an accountant with News World Communications in New York City.

It was while working at News World that he was blessed in Holy matrimony by the Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon on July 1, 1982 to his beautiful wife Darlene Antoinette Stewart. Their cross cultural marriage introduced Godwin to the soul food and soul music of Darlene’s Detroit hometown and introduced Darlene to the richness of Godwin’s South Asian heritage.

When News World opened a Spanish newspaper division in 1984 in Los Angeles, Godwin was the natural choice to head up the accounting department. By 1987 he was serving as the general manager. Meanwhile, Godwin and Darlene began their family life in Alhambra. Godwin cherished the birth of his daughter Priya on July 4, 1987, and the birth of his son Urian on November 6, 1989. He was deeply moved by the opportunity to grow his heart not only as a husband, son and brother, but as a father as well.

In 1993 Godwin returned to his deep calling to do religious and interfaith work and became the state leader of Southern California for the Unification Church, ultimately becoming the first vice regional director in 2000. With a desire to deepen his understanding and knowledge of not only Christianity but the world’s great religious traditions, he entered the Unification Theological Seminary after finishing his B.S. at Regents College of the University of the State of New York. In 2003, he graduated from UTS with a Masters in Religious Education and returned to Los Angeles where he fulfilled the post of state leader of Southern California.

During his years as state leader, Godwin helped to start the Ocean Challenge Project in 1992 and has continued to serve as a board member. He worked on The California Times; helped organize a National Parent’s Day program for the City of Southgate; and has organized and taken responsibility for numerous of church-related inter-religious, educational, community and social outreach programs. Multilingual in Spanish, Malay and Indian languages, his skills always proved valuable in Los Angeles.

In late 2004, Godwin discovered that he had colon cancer and began a variety of treatments embracing the best of what the East and West had to offer. One of the most effective treatments proved to be the faithful prayers of his mother combined with her home cooking. No matter how challenging his health, Godwin kept his spirit strong and continued to involve himself in the highest levels of providential work. He visited the Middle East with the peace initiative, helped organize the world tours of the Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon in India and Malaysia and continued to actively develop programs and relations with ambassadors for peace. One of his proudest moments was presenting the crown of India to Rev. and Mrs. Moon at the opening of the Chyeong Gyeong Palace.

Godwin passed away on February 12, 2007 at 1:23 a.m. at home surrounded by his beloved family and friends. He will always be remembered for his beautiful smile which reflected his deep heart of faith, love, loyalty and eternal curiosity about the people and the world around him.

He is survived by his beloved wife Darlene, his daughter Priya, and his son Urian and a huge loving family. That family includes his mother, Christina D’Silva and his siblings: sister Lourette and her husband Canute Magimay and their three children, Jeannelle, Jonathan Joseph and Jessica; sister Susan and her husband Sam Martin and their two children Lisa Marie and Liam; brother Bernard and his wife Allison and their four children, Alexandrea, Dylan, Daniel and Jude; sister Annet and her husband Don O’Mara and two children, Kristen and Chelsea; and sister Cameila (Priya) and her husband Philji Johns and their daughters Georgina and Hanna. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Quincy Stewart and his brother-in-law, Keith Stewart and family and his sister-in-law Deborah Stewart and her children Charmaine, Antonio, Junior, Le and Styron.