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| Fr Francis Rebello, SJ |
Francis was born at Uppoor in Udupi on 20 February 1929 of Marcel Rebello and Sabina Fernandes. He had his schooling at Milagres High School, Kallianpur, and joined St Joseph’s Seminary on 1 June, 1946, and on 15, June 1948 entered the Jesuit novitiate at Calicut, at good old Christ Hall, a young man with many graces: one with eyes to see, saw him go places. From day one he seemed determined to give his best to God and souls. Beneath a modest exterior, Frankie as he was affectionately called, was a man of God and guts: mature beyond his years. The rugged rules of those bygone pre-Vatican days did not deflect his dauntless enthusiasm for life and love: shades of our Father Ignatius! ‘God is love, God loves us, came spontaneously to his lips. Strict observance: faithful and fervent – that was Frankie.
After the usual Juniorate and Philosophy, He did Economics (Honours) at Trichy, followed by Theology with Ordination at Pune. He had a short stint of missionary experience of 6 months at Nagavally before going for Tertianship to Kodaikanal. He taught for 6 months at the Seminary before proceeding to USA for PhD in Economics. Alongside he taught Hinduism in Font Bonne College, and Economics in Cardinal Glenn College. After obtaining his doctorate, he worked for a year as Asst to Mgr. Valders in N.Y. in Hospital apostolate.
Back in the Province in 1967, he was appointed to SJC, Bangalore to teach Economics, to be Asst Hostel warden and Vice Principal of the Commerce Dept. Then followed 4 years of Principalship of St Joseph’s Evening College, then 8 years as Principal of St Joseph’s Commerce College
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| Honouring Fr Francis Rebello, SJ, SJIM - Library is named after him. He laid the initial foundation for what SJIM is today. |
In 1985 he was made Principal of St Aloysius Evening College. He was given a sabbatical in Kotagiri. The following year he was appointed director of retreat movement at Kotagiri. Till 1989 he was an itinerant retreat preacher. March 1991 he was appointed Principal of St Joseph’s College, Jakhama. In Dec. 1992 heart ailment brought him back to the Province. He was assigned to Westbrooke, and from there he worked as an itinerant charismatic retreat preacher. On 6.1.1998 suffered a massive heart attack at Coimbatore and succumbs to it.
Ever since he had a new lease of life following the verdict of the specialists at the Apollo Hospital in Madras, that it was very risky to do anything for the multiple blocks he had in his arteries, Fr Francis had been more active than before. Retreat after retreat, now in Bangalore, now in Mangalore, now in Tamilnadu, now in Kerala, occasionally in the Middle East. He was convinced that this was possible for him only through God’s grace. But towards the end he was getting breathless in spite of the heavy dose of pills he was taking. His last bit of service was to the FMM Sisters at St Francis Convent, Coimbatore. Before he could complete the 3-day program, the summons from the Master came to him. He was found ripe for heaven. Within a couple of hours he was gone, on 8 January 1998, around 8.30 a.m. passed away due to a massive heart attack. In response to the pressing requests from the people of Mangalore, including the Bishop in whose diocese he had preached retreats in more than 130 parishes, the funeral was held in the Seminary church grounds the following day. A large crowd attended it, nearly a hundred priests concelebrating. He now enjoys eternal peace in the company of the Saints and Blessed singing Alleluia!
Fr Prashant Madtha in his homily, describing Fr Francis as a holy man, spelt out the characteristics of a holy man: he has encountered God, he bargains with God on behalf of the people as did Abraham of old; he is a man in a hurry, with a holy haste (restless for Christ); he renounces everything to find his riches in God. Mr Dolphy Lobo, a disciple and collaborator of Fr Rebello in the ministry of charismatic retreats, highlighted his sterling qualities - simple living, deep prayer, and a total dedication and devotion to his mission.
Following his Jesuit patron, St Francis Xavier, our Frankie was a man in a hurry: in walk and in talk. To do and to get things done. Gifted with a prodigious memory he stood easily among the select few academy wise. He had a flair for languages: in Christ Hall Malayalam, in Shembag, Tamil; in Kurseong, Nepali. Like his patron, St Francis Xavier, Fr Francis also found time too short and the world too small for his zeal. A man for others, he gave little thought to his own health, comfort and convenience; by day or by night he was ready to go to people’s houses to pray over their sick and troubled members. Thus he went about doing good. Many attribute their cure, their conversion or their reconciliation to his intercession/intervention. He put the talents God gave him to the best use in His service, and finally died in harness. We can confidently say that we have a powerful intercessor in heaven, continuing the good work he was doing here on earth.
An exemplary religious, an obedient Jesuit, a zealous priest, a transparent person, Fr Francis was simple as a child. It was providential that his funeral should be had in the premises of his alma mater, St Joseph’s Seminary, where he was a seminarian for a year before he joined the Society of Jesus, and where he taught for a short time after his priestly studies. Of his two priest brothers, both Capuchins, only Fr Eugene could be present for the funeral. Fr Francis was laid to rest in the Jesuit cemetery at Jeppu.
Endowed with a near Frankenstein energy, he roved the Palani Hills to cheer the humble, hamlet kids. In the Himalayan foothills, he masterminded a variety of melas. All to build morale among the downtrodden Nepalis. Everywhere he seemed rooted in love of gardening. In due course that love blossomed into something beautiful for God! His finest hour: Frankie’s major monuments, perhaps, rest in Bangalore. The launching of a brave new venture, St Joseph’s College of Business Administration which surely cost him tons of toil and trouble: but brought a bright future to scores of languishing men and women. Then in close collaboration with Fritz Mascarenhas, the firmly founded, flourishing Charismatic Prayer Group, possibly one of the most viable in these parts. By their fruits you shall know them…!
‘The Triumph of Failure.’ In his Chicago and St Louis days Frankie brought out ‘The Triumph of Failure’, a playlet with a symbolic touch: premonition, perhaps, of his own life experience. With the greatest of good will, success as an administrator seemed to delude him. With touching honesty Frankie frankly acknowledged missing the mark! Out of the blue sky came the call of obedience. When Kohima College came calling, he quickly burnt his boats at Westbrooke Watch Tower to face the Nagaland challenge.
The Sunset Years: In sight of the Golden Grail… the Good Shepherd. The direct apostolate beckoned in the guise of retreats, recollections, missions, saving sheep without a shepherd. To become all things to all men. `Lord, teach me to be generous’ not just mumbo jumbo but call to action. He braved into battle where the need was greatest. Wounded in the fray: undismayed, he carried calmly the wound for four more years. He closed a meteoric chapter just inches before the finishing line! His Golden Jubilee. He lives on in hundreds of hearts touched by Gods’ gilded gift of good old Frankie. Frankie gave up his love-filled heart to the great lover –with the final burst: a massive heart attack –far from home – in distant Coimbatore on 6 January 1998.
“The greatest thing in life is to fall in love with Christ”, says Fr Pedro Arrupe. The greatest romance is to remain in love with God: the finest achievement, to achieve the Divine! Frankie was romantic to the core: Divine romance was the reward of a lifetime.
- by Fr Richard Sequeira, SJ
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