Fr Victor D'Silva (1942-2022)

Fr Victor D’Silva, 80 years, 62 years in the Society of Jesus went to his eternal abode early this morning (03 November). The funeral Mass followed by burial will be at MSJ at 3 PM tomorrow (04 November).

Fr Victor D’Silva (80), is the son of the late John Baptist D'Silva and Annie Mary D'Silva (Bhattakody), brother of the late Walter D'Silva, uncle of Julia, Marceline, Sr Laveena UMI, Fr Ajay D'Silva SJ, Vijay and Sujay.

Father Victor D’Silva was a simple, childlike Jesuit, always friendly and cheerful. Whatever work the Superiors gave him, he readily accepted them and fulfilled his responsibilities with all his heart and soul. Mainly trained for the educational apostolate, Fr Victor was frequently called upon to shoulder responsibility as a formator, which he carried out to the satisfaction of all, both superiors and the formees. As a Headmaster of two different schools in the Province, he was known for his efficiency, constancy and administrative acumen. He made a difference in the lives of people through simple ways.   

Fr Henry Saldanha, SJ: Many Alumni at Hassan remember Fr Victor Dsilva as a great teacher and Headmaster. Here are some messages I received just now.

Dr Shivaprakash C K 1975 batch: For years, daily evening , we were playing basketball together along with Stanley Sir and Louis Rao Sir. I was visiting his hostel residence, every evening, after playing. He trained me in general knowledge also. I remember him forever. May his soul rest in peace in heavenly abode.

Shartchandra 1978 : great teacher and great personality 

Venkateshwar Sharma 1978 : he was a great Headmaster and a teacher. Great loss.

Mr Subramanya 1986 : ಒಂದು ನೆನಪು

ಫಾದರ್ ವಿಕ್ಟರ್ ಈ ಡಿ ಸಿಲ್ವ ರವರು ಅಪರೂಪದ ಮಹೋಪಾಧ್ಯಾಯರಾಗಿದ್ದರು ಅವರ ಕನ್ನಡ ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಸೂರೆಗೊಂಡಿತ್ತು ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಅವರ ಮಾರಲ್ science ಕ್ಲಾಸ್ ತುಂಬಾ ಅಪರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪರೂಪ ನಮಗೆಲ್ಲ ಅವರೇ ರೋಲ್ ಮಾಡೆಲ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದರು ಅವರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿ.

Following comments were published at https://www.daijiworld.com/chan/obituaryDisplay?obituaryID=14729

Naveen Frank, Mangalore/Sharjah, Mon, Nov 07 2022

Fr Victor D’silva S.J was simplicity personified. A dedicated priest and a committed Jesuit. He was a close friend of my family. During the jackfruit season, Fr Victor would ensure that his brother bring a big sized jackfruit from their Mangalore home and give it to my father as he was very fond of it. I had visited him last, at Mount St Joseph , Bangalore where he was spending the evening of his life. He was still the same cordial person. Rest in peace Fr Victor. Until we meet again, enjoy heavenly bliss ! Naveen Frank Sharjah UAE

Tony D'Silva, Bondel, Mangalore, Sat, Nov 05 2022

Sad to hear the passing away of Fr. Victor. May he rest in Peace. Beside being a relative, I have known him as a friend and well wisher. An unassuming soul for all his accomplishments as a Jesuit. He was a scholar of Kannada. He was also deeply spiritual. I got to spend some time with him when he was on a sabbatical break and spent time in the U.S. My friends and me will never forget the wonderful time we had with him. My heartfelt condolences to his immediate family and friends and students, a few of whom were very fond of him.

Dr.Cajetan Coelho, Goa, IndiaFri, Nov 04 2022

Respectful farewell to Fr Victor. In Paradisum deducant te Angeli.

Denis Lasrado, Kankanady Mangalore, Thu, Nov 03 2022

Fr. Victor D'Silva was the Director of FRH during 2007-08.Very gentle and humble he was during his stay in Fathima Retreat House. May his noble soul rest in eternali.ce and let the perpetual light shine upon him.

Louis Dsilva Family, Bondel / Mangalore / USA Thu, Nov 03 2022

Sincere condolences to all family members on Fr. Victor's passing away. We pray for him and may Almighty grant him eternal rest and may his Soul Rest in Peace.

Dexter Joachim Saldanha, Meramajal/Omzoor / Mangalore, Thu, Nov 03 2022

Rest in Peace dear Fr Victor Dsilva SJ. You were a person with vast knowledge always with positive impact and compassionate. Heartfelt condolences to the family members and to provincial all Jesuit father's of Karnataka province.

Danny Dsouza, Marnamikatta, Thu, Nov 03 2022

Rest in peace Fr. Victor May the almighty God bless you and give you a reward of having you in heaven as you have served him and his mission in spreading the word of God

Roshan, Mangalore, Thu, Nov 03 2022

Rest In Peace Dear Fr. Victor D'Silva S.J. you were humble and a bunch of knowledge. I remember your positive impact on my life.

***

FR VICTOR EUGENE D’SILVA, SJ 

(23 AUGUST 1942 – 03 NOVEMBER 2022) 

We are all saddened by the sudden demise of our dear Fr Victor D’Silva. He suffered from a cerebral haemorrhage on the night of 2 November 2022 and, though rushed to hospital, he breathed his last in the early hours of 3 November. He was 80 years of age and 62 years a Jesuit. In his passing away, we have lost a warm friend, a zealous yet quiet priest, an earnest religious. 

Announcing the sad news of Victor’s death, Fr Jossie D’ Mello, our Socius wrote: “Fr Victor was a simple, childlike Jesuit, always friendly and cheerful. Whatever works the superiors gave him, he readily accepted them and fulfilled his responsibilities with all his heart and soul. Mainly trained for educational apostolate, Fr Victor was frequently called upon to shoulder responsibilities as a formator, which he carried out to the satisfaction of superiors and formees alike. As Headmaster of two different schools in the province, he was known for his efficiency, constancy and administrative acumen. He made a difference in the lives of people through simple ways”. 

Fr Victor was a spiritual powerhouse. Those of us who have had occasions to interact with him have been greatly impacted spiritually by him. He has not kept a record of the number of persons to whom he gave the Spiritual Exercises, the groups and communities to whom he gave recollection talks, individuals – lay or religious - who availed of his personal guidance and counseling. Neither has he kept a count of the Masses he celebrated, the inspiring homilies he delivered, the sacraments he administered. I recall with nostalgic admiration the stirring sermon he delivered on the day of my First Thanksgiving Mass 22 years ago. Fr Victor was way ahead of his time. He was a polyglot in his own style, master of Kannada, but quite conversant in Konkani, Tulu, Sanskrit, and English. He had numerous friends among people of other faiths, and was from time to time invited to participate in the ‘sarva dharma sammelana’ and to deliver lectures on the Christian faith and the Church’s teaching on inter-religious dialogue. 

Fr Victor lived a life of dignity and died in dignity. In the past six or seven years that he spent in the infirmary at Mount St Joseph, he chose to live like a hermit – speaking only when there was extreme necessity, not indulging in levity or laughter, keeping his cool even when instigated to break silence, not allowing himself to be provoked into irritation or anger. It is no wonder then that he chose to depart from this life causing the least bit of inconvenience to others. Nevertheless, he has left a void in our hearts. 

Fr Victor has left many pleasant impressions on his confreres, brothers or sisters, cousins, uncles or aunts, colleagues or subordinates. All found in him a loving friend and a compassionate priest. Many will remember his ready availability as a priest who blessed their wedding, baptized their children, buried their loved ones, and above all, prayed for them at the Eucharist. 

Victor had, like any of us, his faults and failures. Like St Paul (Rom 7:15), he was painfully aware of his spiritual dilemma. He would candidly share about them in our faith sharing sessions. These lacunae in no way hindered or blocked his longing for a life of perfection. If we humans didn’t mind them at all, we can be absolutely certain that the merciful God would be infinitely kinder to him. God’s response to Victor would be: “My grace is sufficient for you, for in your weakness, power reaches perfection” (2 Cor 12:9). 

Dear Fr Victor, as your name suggests, today you are really a victor. You will no longer be a victim to blood pressure, diabetes, bodily wear and tear, ailments and physical sufferings. You have triumphed over all these earthly conditions. You have fought a good fight; you have finished the race in style. You have gone to heaven where you really belong. Rest in peace and pray for us. Adieu Fr Victor, till we meet again! 

- Fr Edward Rodrigues, SJ

Source: Karunada Saurabha » Karnataka Jesuit Province Newsletter, KS » November 2022» Vol 95 » No. 11

Mundgod - Hanagal

Mundgod is a small town located in the reserved forest area in the northern part of Karnataka. In 1980 Fr. Mathew Lewis went as parish priest of St. Rita’s Church, with a small number of Catholics. In 1991, with the help of the Charity Sisters, Fr Lewis started a school in the Church premises to educate the tribals (Siddhis, Gollas, and Gowlies) and Dalits who live in small villages deep in the forest. In 1993 under the able leadership of Fr. Lawrence Pinto the school was shifted to the present location (Karaginakoppa). In 1994 the primary school turned into a High School and then a composite PU College in 2003.

In view of preparing good teachers the Jesuits started a D. Ed College in 2004. However due to the changing policies of the government and lack of numbers, it was closed down. Fr. Lawrence Pinto followed a different education system. Along with the regular subjects he introduced additional subjects like farming, dairy, carpentry, etc., so that the students after their studies go back to their villages and help in rebuilding their village and make the villages self-sufficient. Instead of housing them in large hostel buildings, a cottage system was introduced. Each cottage had around 30 children with a kitchen, a garden and a warden. It was a new concept – school with a difference.

Loyola Vikas Kendra, a social action centre, works for the integral development of the poor, fighting for justice, building up their self-esteem, restoring human dignity, creating awareness, promoting health and hygiene, releasing them from the fetters of money lenders and eradicating poverty in Mundgod and HangalTalukas of Uttara Kannada and Haveri districts. This centre runs 5 village hostels, mainly for the Primary and the High school students.

St. Rita’s Parish has 3 sub-stations. The Catholics in two sub stations – Mainahalli and Ugginkere are mainly Siddhis who are descendants of African slaves brought to Goa by the Portuguese, and hence bear African features. Another substation is at Malagi. The parish at Mundgod looks after the socio-pastoral development of the people. St. Lawrence Church at Hangal is another parish under the supervision of the Mundgod Mission.

Bijapur - Sindagi

It was in 1991 at the request of the Diocese of Belgaum; Vijayapura (aka Bijapur) Jesuit Mission was started by the Jesuits of Karnataka Province. The main task of the Jesuits was to take care of the Catholic community of St. Anne’s Church, Bijapur. The first Jesuits who pioneered the mission were Fr. Ambrose D’Mello and Fr. Denis Alvares. Having made a situational analysis of the city, the Jesuits discovered that Bijapur was dominated by slums. Seeing the plight of the slum dwellers, they made an intervention in the slums of Vijayapura trying to raise the consciousness of the people and organizing educational and conscientization programmes for the marginalized. As they went ahead, they discovered a lot of child labourers in the whole of the district and began a Child Labourers School which was well recognized in the district.

After the diocese of Gulbarga was established in 2005, Vijayapura became a Deanery with the Mission Superior as the Dean. It comprises the missions of Vijayapura, Devarahipparagi, Indi, Kanakal, Sindagi, Almel, Muddebihal and Talikote. Seeing the immensity of the task, they sought the collaboration of other religious. Nine religious congregations of women accepted the invitation. They are spread out in the whole of the deanery of Vijayapura. The religious congregations there now are: Society of Jesus (SJ), Sisters of Charity (SCCG), Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny (SJC), Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes (SJT), Daughters of the Heart of Mary (DHM), Sisters of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (JMJ), Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM), Ursuline Franciscan Sisters (UFS) and Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons (SJL). Although each of the congregations/priests functions autonomously in the area assigned to them, they work as a team with a common vision, objectives, strategies and plan of action.

In Vijayapura and Sindagi, the Jesuits are involved in the following works: pastoral work through a parish (the only parish in the whole of the district of Vijayapura), securing basic amenities for the slum dwellers in 65 slums, technical education for the rural school dropouts, rehabilitation of Devadasis and commercial sex workers and the education of their girl children, formal education of the children of the slum dwellers, Devadasis, HIV infected and migrants, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, HIV/AIDS awareness in the slums of Vijayapura and Community Care of the HIV/AIDS infected persons of North Karnataka districts.

SINDAGI

Loyola School CBSE Sindagi began in 2011 as Loyola KG School at 'Sangama' Social Work Center near Jnana Bharati School, Sindagi. It was later shifted to the present new campus in 2013. The construction work of the school began on 16 October 2013.

Rev Fr Lawrence Pinto SJ was the founding father. Later Fr. Eric Mathias SJ served till 16 August 2014. Then came Dn. Lancy Dais who left in December and was replaced by Fr. Kanikyaraju as the Manager of the School.

The Year 2014 was one of the most significant years of Loyola School, Sindagi as it received an independent building for its classes. March 08, 2014 was the historic day as the building was dedicated to the students in the presence of our benefactor Rev Fr. W. Molinski SJ of German Province. Most Rev. Dr Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Minister of Road and Surface Transport Government of India, Mr. M.B. Patil, Minister of Irrigation, Government of Karnataka, Fr. Francis Serrao SJ Provincial of Karnataka and a large number of Jesuits and other well-wishers were present.

On 1 st of July 2015 the foundation stone for the faculty house Loyola Nivas was laid. In the month of September. a new computer lab with 35 computers was made available for the students of Loyola School. New Bus to Loyola School Sindagi was purchased on 18th May with the generous contribution of Rheinik; parish in Switzerland with the help of Fr Toni Kurmann. New play area for Loyola School Sindagi was constructed in the month of March 2015.

In 2017,the secondary school building work began in the campus. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons were the collaborators. Later the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters (UFS). In the year 2018, Sr Milagrine UFS took over as the HM of Loyola School Sindagi. Little forest in the campus was named as 'Loyola Vana'.

In the year 2021, Fr Cyril Castelino was appointed as the new Principal of Loyola School. Presently Fr Lancy Fernandes SJ is the Principal since 2022.

Websites:

Bijapur: https://www.loyolainstitutions.org/

Sindagi: http://loyolasindagi.com/

Fr Dominic Ferroli (1887-1970)

Fr Ferroli who passed away in Italy on 4th October 1970 at the ripe old age of 84, was one of the great luminaries of the former Mangalore Mission. Born in Italy on 13th November 1887, he did his early studies in the Diocesan Seminary. He entered the Society in  January 1906 and did his novitiate at Soresina and later his first year of philosophy at  Cremona. In 1910 he was sent to England where he completed his philosophy at  Stonyhurst and then joined the Liverpool University. Here he had for companion Fr Leo Proserpio, who became later the Bishop of Calicut.

The two of them came to India in 1913, reaching Mangalore on October 26. Fr Ferroli spent 3 years at St Aloysius College doing his regency and then proceeded to Kurseong for his theology. He was ordained in   January 1920. At the end of the same year, Fr Ferroli was sent back to Italy and joined the University of Padua where he took his doctorate in  Physics in1923. Back in India at the end of the year, he did his tertianship at Ranchi and then joined the staff of St Aloysius College in November 1924. For the next 10 years, he worked in Mangalore teaching Mathematics and religion in the College, running study clubs for boys or organizing public lectures and writing books.

After a brief stay in Italy in 1934, he was posted at Christ Hall, Calicut where he was first in charge of the carbon factory and then taught in the Juniorate. In 1937 Fr Ferroli was transferred to Bangalore where he took up work at St Joseph's College, which was then newly taken over by the Jesuits of the Mangalore Mission. Here he organized the first  Summer School which continued to be held for a number of years. 

During the Second World War, Fr Ferroli was interned in N. India, and was allowed to return to the Mission only in1945. He stayed for a time in Calicut and then went to Bangalore in 1947 where he took up work in St Joseph's College once more. Fr Ferroli returned to Italy in 1956 when he was long past the age for active work in the College. But he continued his labours in Italy, keeping himself busy with various forms of apostolic work almost till the end.

A highly intellectual man, Fr Ferroli was at the same time an assiduous worker. While fully occupied in teaching, he found time to write several books. The best known of these are his Studies in Christian Sanctity (a second edition was published under the title of 'The Queen's Call'), Ethics or Moral Science in three volumes, Jesuits in Malabar in two volumes, and Jesuits in Mysore. The two last show great research and scholarship and a  sense of historical perspective.

An eloquent preacher, his sermons were always a delight to hear, while as a confessor he was greatly in demand. Seemingly absorbed in intellectual pursuits and grave-looking, he was at the same time an amiable man who kept the ball rolling during community recreation by his humorous stories. Above all, he was a   man of prayer and great personal sanctity. It was a source of edification to watch him recite the breviary or his rosary – so great was his recollection. May God grant him the reward of his great labours. 

Written by Fr Devadatta Kamath

in The Burning Bush Part II Volume 2, Pages 39-40, 2008 (Unpublished, Kar Province Archives). 

Pannur-Manvi

 Established in 2002 

The history of Pannur- Manvi Mission began when five young dynamic scholastics doing their theology came together one evening in the year 1998 to discern as to what they could do once they were ordained. After a long discussion and deliberation they felt that they should go to North Karnataka, the most neglected parts of the State, placing themselves at the hands of the Bishop, as their founder did five centuries ago. As a fruit of their deliberation 4 of them opted to do their diaconal ministry in the remote parishes of the Bellary diocese. One of them was St. Peter’s Church Jagir Pannur. Later they requested the Provincial that Jesuits take up the Pannur Parish for our pastoral and social involvement.

The Pannur – Manvi Mission was officially started in the year 2002 with Frs. Eric Mathias, Joseph Monteiro and Maxim Rasquinha as pioneers. The mission was inaugurated in 2003. With the view of uplifting the poor and discriminated people of Manvi Taluka, Loyola School was started in the year 2004 with 40 students on the roll. Today this school has grown by leaps and bounds, having 446 students, mostly Dalits, studying in this school in English medium. Further another school called the Xavier School with CBSE scheme began in 2007. The aim of this school is to facilitate Dalits also to study under the CBSE scheme, hitherto considered elitist. The growth of Pannur Mission seems unstoppable as the Pre- University College came up in 2010 and the degree college in 2012. The Pannur Mission today has Loyola School, Xavier School, Loyola PU and Degree College, Loyola Kapipaladi School, Loyola Hostels, Arrupe Boarding House, St Peter’s Church and a Social work Centre with 2351 students, 852 Hostellers, 151 collaborators and 12 Jesuits. (According to the 2023 KAR Catalogue)

History in detail

 On 29th June 2002, when Frs. Maxim Rasquinha, Eric Mathias and Joseph Monteiro started the Mission with the blessings of late Bishop Joseph D'Silva of Bellary and our then Provincial Fr.Ronnie Prabhu SJ. Pannur was a small village with hardly any facilities available to the people who numbered around 1750 including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Muslims. Catholics were then 450 in number and all of them are Dalits.

There were minimal transport facilities. A Government bus used to come twice a day; no market facilities no medical help: for everything people had to go either to Manvi (18kms) or Pothnal (16 kms) away. There was a Primary school in which a cow used to rest regularly. One teacher was taking care of four classes in one room. The Dalit children had to sit in one corner.

Our Main intention in starting the Mission was to educate the children and thus work out a programme of liberation through education. We were aware of the various problems in the village including bonded labor, child labor and harassment from the land lords especially to women. So we planned to have self- help groups among women and gave them an awareness of their rights and privileges and the importance of educating their children. With the help of three Bethany Sisters we gave an intense coaching to 50 children collected from Pannur and surrounding villages. They gave the children plenty of input through play-way method with catchy songs and rhythms and plenty of games. Within a month we were able to put them in standard 1, 2 and 3 in different schools according to their talents.

Then we planned to start a school in Manvi. In 2004 we bought around 40 acres of land and put up a simple multi-purpose structure and started our school with 40 students. Little by little we built hostels and regular school for children; and now after 10 years we are proud to say that we have children from baby class to final year degree numbering around 1600.

In Pannur we felt a great urgency of a medical center to meet the needs of our suffering people. We had seen with our own eyes children and grownups dying of snake bite and other diseases. Similarly pregnant women were often unable to get timely help. So we started Loyola Medical Center in Pannur with Sisters of Josephs of Tarbes serving the sick people.

We have started an English medium school for children from LKG onward. At present we have classes up to 3rd standard inclusive, with the student’s strength around 250. This is also run by Sisters of the same group.Our people have been longing to have a new church in place of the old one which was badly affected by floods. We have built a lovely church quit spacious to accommodate 750 people. The people feel proud of it as they realize that their own dignity is enhanced by this house of prayer which constantly reminds them to reform and renew their lives

We have been simultaneously working at the grass root level visiting more than 60 villages, conscientizing women and empowering them to be leaders. We have taken the girl child with grater preference for education and empowerment. We are determined to educate the Dalit children and bring them up to the level of children of other communities. We are happy to note that some of our children are pursuing their medical, engineering and B.Sc nursing in different institutions in Mangalore and Bangalore.Most of our Dalit children are staying in Loyola Study House were opportunities for all round development are offered. Besides academics and games, human values are inculcated constantly so that they may become men and women for others and fulfill the motto of the school ' To reach the unreached'. There are at present 450 students in Loyola Study Home among whom around 200 are girls.

We hope that within the next 15 years many of our students will occupy important posts in society and work for the liberation of their less privileged brothers and sisters.

Website: https://www.loyolacollegemanvi.com/

P. Jerome Lobo (1894-1977)

Fr. Jerome Lobo SJ (1894-1977)

(Out of love for my friend Fr Jerome, I jotted down a few ideas; true, we were good friends, but we lived much of our lives separated by places and works, except for the last years of his life. I am not sure if what I wrote is a necrology or mere reminiscences." Fr F.X. Rocca, SJ.)

What a conflicting situation for a friend to write the obituary of his friend? Sadness at his departure, and happiness to recall the beautiful bond of deep friendship between two sons of the Society.

My first meeting with Fr Jerome was a coincidence: I had arrived in India and Bishop Perini had brought me to the Bishop's House in Mangalore. On December 3, 1921, he took me to Rosario Cathedral for the ordination of Fr Jerome. The latter gave me a picture-souvenior of his ordination, and with him I could exchange only a few dry words in Latin, for I knew no English. Then separation - he to Bolar as parish priest, and I for philosophy in the Pulini Hills. Suddenly in 1924, Fr Jerome appeared at Shembaganur to begin his novitiate. I remembered him, greeted him with a few more words, perhaps in pidgin English - then separation again; for between the novices and philosophers "erat mare magnue" - till December 1926, when Fr Jerome and I would travel together to Kurseong. During this journey I began to see the noble and charitable nature of the Father. 

After two interesting years together, though with no special intimacy, Fr Jeorme was posted at Jeppu in various capacities; and we did not meet again till 1945, when he was appointed P.P. of the Mother of God cathedral parish at Calicut. In him as parish priest, I admired his zeal, his devotion to duty, his loving and gentlemanly dealings with all without  discrimination, and especially his respectful & kind ways with his collaboratiors. The priests of the diocese, the religious and the parishioners had great appreciation, respect and love for him. 

When the new bishop of Calicut Mgr Patroni fell ill in 1948, Fr Jerome was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese. Later, when the Bishop had to be away in Italy, and the First Plenary Council of India was announced, Fy Jerome was delegated to represent the diocese. At that time, we both happened to be together, lodged in the same Clergy House near the cathedral in Bangalore. 

During the absence of the bishop, all diocesan business devolved on Father. It is then that I admired his noble character: he never put forward his claims as VG; he consulted me in everything, and fully trusted me, and would often say very cordially, "It's all right!" (The expression "OK"came later to him.)

At this point, I must mention something unknown to the public so far: When Bishop Proserpio had died in 1945, the Terna for the new bishop was sent to Rome, and it was my astonished joy to see the name of Fr Jerome among the three "papabili"!

Our final reunion took place in 1955, in the Seminary in Mangalore, where we lived together for twenty years. Here Fr. Jerome filled many important posts: professor of pastoral theology, Logic and Latin. In 1959, he was director of the prestigious Gentimemen's Sodality and of the Catholic Club, offices he held for many years. He was a much sought-after confessor of priests, and preacher, especially on the occasion of parish feasts. Though Father's was not a speculative intellect, yet by serious application he obtained a mastery of English, and Latin and Logic, and of the niceties of Rhetoric. After Fr Nana's death, he became spiritual director & confessor of the Jesuit community.

In 1959, Fr Jerome experienced severe pain in the throat, and cancer was suspected. The famous late Dr Borges of Bombay, to whom he went for treatment, sent him back to us fully cured. A few years later he had serious trouble with the only sound eye he had. (How he lost the first eve I do not know.) I sent him to the American visiting occulist in Patna, who healed his eye. (Later, however, his eyesight began to grow dim, and he was permitted to ay the Mass "De Beata" in Latin, which he memorised.

Two festive occasions marked his life the golden jubilee of his priesthood in 1971 and of his life in the Society in 1974: Few, I think, have had their jubilees in this order!

The end of a quiet and edifying life came as a surprise to all. On December 17, when I went to wish him goodbye, perhaps for the last time, I asked him how he felt. With his usual smile he said, "I'm OK." Yet barely ten days later there came the collapse at Puttur, his treatment at Kankanady Hospital, a quick succession of ups and downs, till on January 12 another hemorrhage put him in a state of coma, from which he never recovered. On the 25th, at 1 pm, the good Father winged his flight to the "House of the Father," for he had in due time expressed his full compliance with God's will.

The cable that brought me the news of his passing away shook me not a little. Another friend and co-worker has been called to his reward; another stalwart of the Province has joined the Society in heaven, leaving a great void especially in the Seminary and in the Diocese of Mangalore.

The main concelebrants at the funeral mass were Bishop Basil of Mangalore and Bishop Patroni of Calicut. Over 60 priests concelebrated, and well over 2000 people formed the congregation. Among those who had come from Calicut were Frs Delzotto and Pullen, Bros Magagnotti and Giusto. At the graveyard, Bishop Basil expressed his condolences to the Jesuits of Karnataka who had lost five members within two months. He added that the example of Fr Jerome and the message of his life endure in hearts of all who have been trained by him. Bishop Patroni extolled Fr Jerome's sense of dedication & his services to the diocese of Calicut.

As I think of him now, I realise how well he lived in his ways, in his manners and in his speech the description of the true Christian Gentleman given by Newman. But more than this, he was a very good religious: faithful to God, faithful to the Society, kind and respectful to all. In particular, he was the loving brother of his confreres in the Society. It is well known that on the birthday or feast day of each one, he would pen in his bold & upright handwriting a card conveying his wishes and prayers. That handwriting was indeed symbolic loyal character, a Character perhaps not for daring new endeavours, but strong in that prudence and spiritual wisdom which is often more valuable & appreciated, in responsible circles.

Written by an Italian Jesuit. Name is not mentioned in the typed manuscript.

Source: Archives of the Karnataka Jesuit Province, Loyola Mandir, Bangalore. 

Loyola Bangalore

                                             LOYOLA HIGH SCHOOL, Mt. St. Joseph, Bannerghatta Road

Inception and Expansion

BANGALORE JESUIT EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY runs many educational institutions. Loyola High School is one of them. The birth of LOYOLA SCHOOL in 1982 (at Mount Saint Joseph, Kalena Agrahara village) was a result of BJES’ policy of option for the poor. This is the first fully Kannada Medium School run by the BJES in a rural area.  It had a humble beginning. It was started in a shed near Kalena Agrahara – to serve the need of so many villages in this vast area just outside the city in Bangalore South where there was no high school in a radius of more than 10 kms. There wasn't a necessity of starting a Primary School because there were already 03 Higher Primary schools in neighbouring villages. 

Fr Alexis Menezes, the then Rector of  Mt. St. Joseph, has left behind a manuscript in which he writes thus “The decision to open the School was taken at the Province Sammelan of May 1982.  The permission to open a High School at Mount Saint Joseph was announced by the Govt in its gazette notification of July 7, 1982. In the application, the name of the school was proposed as Mount Saint Joseph High School, but soon after the school started, it was realised that for the students as well as the people of the area MSJ was a mouthful, too difficult to utter. A proposal was therefore made to the Department to change the name to Loyola high school. The proposal was approved and hence all documents pertaining to the school are under this name...... The 17 students who were admitted were....pulled out from their homes to have a sizable group to start with........The school began functioning from July 12, 1983..... besides special fee no other fees were charged”)

EXPANSION

Kannada medium Primary School: Since serving the poor was the priority, the school did not even think of introducing uniform to children. The poor deserve the best- so a beautiful building was constructed for the school in 1984. Soon the Jesuits discovered that the really poor did not come to our High School because they were not in a position to complete even the Primary School. Even from our own village of Kalena Agrahara very few reached the high school stage because quality education was not imparted in existing Primary schools around.  Hence the Jesuits felt the need to start their own Kannada Medium Primary school. Accordingly, the Primary School was started in 1989. Got permission from the department for Kannada medium Highschool in 1982. Brought under Grant - In - Aid in 1989. There are 6 class rooms in Kannada medium High School 8A, B, 9A, B, 10A, B. All except 10B are under grant - in- aid. Though 10B was a natural growth then, till date it doesn't have even the permission. Hence for the govt purpose 10th std has only one section. Till date there has been a heavy rush for admissions for both the mediums. Only the poorest (urban poor, middle class and lower middle class) seek admission here. Because they are poor, as a policy we don't charge much fees. So far BJES is generously giving partial subsidy every year.

• English Medium School: English Medium unaided 1st to 5th std: started in 2022.
• Primary School: 6th and 7th Std: Started in 2012, 2013 respectively.
• English medium High school: 8th, 9th & 10th std started in 2014, 2015, 2016 respectively.
• PU College: Stated in 2008
• Degree College: Stated in 2017

Presently, all the above units except Kannada medium Primary school, are functioning in one building, under one roof.

Managers of the School

• Rev. Fr. A P Menezes SJ (1982-1988)
• Rev. Fr Ronald Prabhu SJ (1988-1992)
• Rev. Fr. Robert Cutinho SJ (1992-1993)
• Rev. Fr. Anand Prabhu SJ (1993-2000)
• Rev. Fr. Maxim Rasquinha SJ (2000-2001)
• Rev. Fr. Fredrick D'Silva SJ (2001-2002)
• Rev. Fr. Terrence Farias SJ (2002-2004)
• Rev. Fr. Mohan SJ (2004-2006)
• Rev. Fr. John D'souza SJ (2006-2008)
• Rev. Fr. Henry Saldanha SJ (2008-2017)
• Rev. Fr. Edward Rodrigues SJ (2017-2024)
• Rev. Fr. 

Headmasters of the School

• Rev. Sr. Jone of Arc (1982-1983)
• Rev. Sr. Mary Celina SSpS (1983-1998)
• Rev. Sr. Therasa Rebello SSpS (1998-2008)
• Rev Fr. Henry Saldanha S J (2008-2017)
• Rev. Fr. Edward Rodrigues S J (2017- 2024)
• Rev. Fr. Gerald Furtado SJ (2024-)

 Message from the Provincial on Ruby Jubilee

Loyola High School, Bengaluru is in the 40th year of its existence and celebrating its Ruby Jubilee. A Jubilee is a celebration of not just a promise but also fulfilment, not only a sense of achievement and success, but the celebration of competence, compassion, creativity and commitment. Our stalwarts, Fr Julian Fernandes, the then Provincial and Late Fr Alexis Menezes, the then Rector, planted a small sapling of a High School on this Holy Ground in the year 1982 and it has now blossomed into a huge tree bearing a rich variety of fruits.  It was a mission of mercy, a carriage of compassion, to reach out to the urban poor such as the children of agricultural labourers, quarry workers, weavers, garment industry workers, hotel waiters, maids, painters, coolies, garage workers and auto drivers who were pushed to the margins because of their poor economic and social situations.

As a mother cares for her child, this school has nurtured the lives of scores of students helping them to move forward as responsible persons in society.  What delights me in the Management, Principal and teachers of Loyola High School is their unceasing enthusiasm, their love for those students from the periphery of society. What inspires me is the motivation of the students coming to the school with a dream on the horizon and   becoming men and women for others. A Jubilee is a time to remember and be grateful to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us over the years. It is also a time to recall and cherish the fond memories as we journey through the corridors of its past. It is a time to remind ourselves that God is in-charge and we are his instruments of love and service. As we celebrate the Ruby Jubilee of Loyola High School, let’s look back and assess what has been accomplished and see the signs of the times and see what more can be done for the urban poor in the area. I wish the Management, Principal, staff and students every success.