If for most of us threescore and ten is an enviable age to reach, Fr William Picardo always a cricket enthusiast, scored better than what most of us aim at, with a fourscore and five. If we view the long span of life, which he began with the century and would not have minded concluding with it, is the sign of the Lord’s being pleased with him, we are right in the spirit of the Biblical tradition. Keeping to the same tradition we might add also that Fr William did everything in his power to earn the blessing – both from the natural and supernatural points of view. Hence his passing from one lengthy span of life to another that knows no end must be regarded as a transition from one form of the Kingdom to another that knows no end either.
It is the Kingdom that fired the generous heart of the beardless youth from Barkur. Born in a family that did not want in spiritual any more than in material blessings, William aimed at something more perfect when he completed his High School studies at St Aloysius and joined St Joseph’s Seminary on 20 June 1919. The restless flame that ever urged him on to something more for the Kingdom apparently made him take the next step when he joined the novitiate at Shembaganur on 17 May 1923. Once given definitively to the Kingdom, William let Superiors take charge of his life. They did, with his enthusiastic cooperation. After his Philosophy in Shembag, he was sent to St Aloysius, his alma mater, for regency. He did it so well, ruling the hearts of both those above and below him, - a rare feat undoubtedly – that in three years we find him proceeding to Rome for theology at the Gregorian University. It was there he was ordained priest on 25 July 1934. In his later years he used to blame his naiveté that cost him a chance of doing his tertian-ship at Paray-le-Monial. Instead he was sent to Florence, where, however, he found Our Lord as easily and had his zeal for the Kingdom rekindled.
The idea of his studies at the Gregorian seems to have been that he would join the staff at St Joseph’s Seminary on his return. But Providence and its instruments decreed otherwise, and the young priest, ever at the disposal of the Superiors found without surprise that the Kingdom and its needs could be encountered anywhere and in any form. William had cultivated his own way of encountering them. A stately figure, handsome countenance, stentorian yet sonorous voice, an even flow of chosen words whether in English or Konkani, ideas as modern as traditional – the young priest soon became as good a preacher as a teacher at St Aloysius and around. He had a way with the students, and those who knew him remember still how they felt drawn by his electrifying personality. There was nothing soft about him, either. In fact he could be hard where he believed, punishment was called for. However, even the chastised went back to him only because in these matters his memory was as short as his temper.
In May 1937 Fr William was transferred to St Joseph’s Indian High School, Bangalore where he pronounced his Final Vows on 15 August 1939. In 1943 he took over as the Principal of the School and held the office for full ten years. The School had reached its peak by then and made even further strides all through his tenure. The best of Fr William could be witnessed in those years. He identified himself with the institution – the Staff, the students, the parents – carrying them all with him, thanks as much to his magnetic personality as single-minded dedication. The love, respect and awe with which the alumni remembered him even years later is a standing tribute to the good work he accomplished at the time.
Chat with any alumnus of St Joseph’ IHS who passed out in the 1950’s and it’s wonderful to see that someone special invariably emerges from such conversations. “He was an experienced and able administrator and one of the best Principals I came across. His personality was best suited for that old architectural stone building of the Residency Road.” Yet another wrote: “Tall, lean, thin-bearded Rev. Fr William Picardo was indeed one of the greatest men I have come across. He deeply impressed all those with whom he came in contact. Students, teachers, parents, citizens and administrators of our country have had a very high opinion of him.” For all of them IHS meant Fr Picardo, and Fr Picardo meant IHS!
“Those ten long years brought out the best in him. His deep faith, coupled with his magnetic personality drew the staff, the students and their parents to him. His commitment, perseverance and persistence swayed the minds of everyone he met. Their love and respect for him was boundless. As for the alumni, they still have a treasure of nostalgic memories of their association with him.”
“As though to recognize his greatness, the Government of Mysore was pleased to nominate him as a Member of the Legislative Council…It was then I came to know he was a gem among men …The State of Mysore was indeed proud of Fr Picardo. He was considered to be one of the great and enthusiastic school administrators of the State of Mysore. During his regime our school attained greater heights both in the field of sports and education….”
“In 1983 he was back in Bangalore to celebrate his Golden Jubilee as a Jesuit. That was when we had the privilege of a second `darshan’ of the one we revered. It was homecoming for Fr Picardo and he did not hide his tears of joy.”
What made this great soul tick? Another alumnus and former member of the staff writes: “Fr Picardo had a unique way of translating faith into action. He wrote to me once – a rewrite of the school motto Faith and Toil: `George, that means: half on your knees and half on your elbows.’”
When complimented on his successful business enterprise, Adam Sait, an alumnus and the proprietor of Adam Sait and Sons in the Richard Square, Russel Market, replied: “Well, George (Thekkekara), they are all Fr Picardo’s blessings. His inspiring faith kept me going. Once in a way he used to pay me a visit. He was a man of immense faith.” When anyone failed to stop and pray at the stroke of the prayer bell in the morning, he was asked to stay on after class in the evening for a penance class. Both Mr Arokiaswamy the P.T. Instructor and Mr Anthony, the attendant, made no compromise in enforcing the rule and to see that the rod was not spared, and the boys knew this. It was another way in which Fr Picardo revealed his priorities to the others on the campus. In addition to this rule, Fr Picardo had little signboards in all the classrooms saying, GOD SEES ME’. This was to help the boys to always speak the truth and shun lies.”
Students in a school enjoy sports and games and Fr Picardo knew this very well. He loved to watch the young players of the school in action. His enthusiasm knew no bounds. On the day when the School team was playing a final, the students were let off sometimes even an hour earlier, so that the students could go and cheer their team. ...He evinced keen interest in every move on the field ...and when goals were scored, he was known to leap and dance in union with the boys for joy. Whether the School team won or lost, he told them always to congratulate the players of the other team… Kind and compassionate, Fr Picardo never compromised on values and duties.
But this was not accomplished only in the eyes of the public, nor was it a question of flash. The outer achievements were in fact an overflow from the profoundest love he had cultivated for the Kingdom. The Superiors knew it, and we have the proof of it in his appointment now as the Rector of the Domus Maxima, Christ Hall. Cut off from the public gaze of Bangalore, where he had left part of his heart, as he himself would confess, Fr William gave himself with his wonted enthusiasm to a professed cultivation of interior life. The atmosphere of the Novitiate proved an ally. The young Jesuit rejuvenated his spirit. It was a time of revitalization all over. The old Calicut Mission gave birth to the Karnataka Vice-Province. The new Vice-Province had to have a new Novitiate at one end and new missions at the other. Fr William joined the team of the pioneers who would toil to make the dream come true. In his quest for funds he spanned cities, countries and even continents, always fruitfully to the relief of the hard-pressed Vice-Provincial, Fr Boniface D’Souza.
And yet, when the dream came true and Mount St Joseph became a reality, the fruition of it all was denied to Fr William. In true apostolic detachment he moved to St Joseph’s Seminary, and even this as a springboard. Another great dream was taking shape in the ever vital apostolic mind of this great lover of the Kingdom – to be a pioneer in the African missions entrusted now to the infant Vice-Province. Though in his 60s, with the zeal which could be the envy of many a youth, he flew to Africa to spend there, as it turned out, all the time left him of his active ministry. It was April 1960.
It is interesting to see how he got adjusted to a new place. “I disliked the place (the new one, Rakwaro in Kenya) more on coming here than before… I just couldn’t get accustomed to the absence of electricity, and I couldn’t give up rising up at 4.00 a.m. I was supplied with two gas cylinders, one for cooking and the other for light, but… in a few days I got accustomed to them, and now I don’t think of them… but it is wonderful how the good God makes up. For instance, our rooms here are self-contained, a study, bed-room, toilet and bath! This makes up for everything I miss. How I used to get scared at Assumbi at night, when I had to walk through the garden to reach the toilets! I always imagined I saw lions and leopards. Of course the dogs frightened me enough. But this self-contained room is a luxury I never enjoyed except in I Class hotels and at St Xavier’s, Delhi…So taking it all in all, I am glad I am here and nothing else than an order of holy obedience would take me back to Assumbi!...I am so glad I came here.” (Gleanings July 1974)
Fr William spent 19 years in Africa –the present Tanzania and Kenya –in true apostolic dedication. Belying his age, he worked among both Indian immigrants and native Africans, learning Swahili and trying his luck even with Gujarati. His work was as varied as the sort of people he encountered. Now he lived alone, now in a community. Whether as chaplain of a convent, Rector of a Minor Seminary or Superior of the Mission, it was the Kingdom that mattered. He had his other loves, no doubt. But a true Jesuit he was, he knew their place – their worth and worthlessness. He loved a good table; after all he was a follower of one who came eating and drinking, and not of the ascetic Baptist. But his single-minded love of the Kingdom did not begin at table nor did it end there. There was never a trace of bitterness in his voice. It was always reserved for the King and the Kingdom.
No wonder the Province gave public and ungrudging expression of its appreciation of his services in May 1973 at the Sammelan at Mount St Joseph, on the occasion of his 50 years as a Jesuit. That touched him so much that he would be moved to tears whenever he recalled the event later.
Too old and infirm to carry on with his labours, Fr William was recalled and looked after at the Seminary from March 1979. True to his ways he moved about till the end. On 11 June he had his last lunch and went back to his room to rest – in the Lord, and to hear from the Master: Well done, good and faithful servant…. The Kingdom was his first love and the last. The memory of his magnanimous stature will remain ever fresh in our hearts.
“As I look back on the 50 years in the Society, what gives me faith in my vocation is that I have not had a moment of unhappiness in it. I have found it a Society of love and she has treated me better than I deserve…What astonished me is the affectionate regard in which the Province holds me. I am not aware of any other Province of the Society which has transported a member from one continent to another only to celebrate his jubilee. This is constantly in my mind and will never be out of my heart. I would rather have my right arm cut off than forget my mother –the Society of Jesus.” (Gleanings, Sept 1973)
- by Fr Richard Sequeira, SJ
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