Monday 28 October 2019

Bro. John Alphonso SJ (1914-2014)

Br. John Alphonso, who lived 100 years of his life, returned to his heavenly abode at 11.30am in St. Vincent’s residence on July 19, 2014. A week prior to his death, Br. John had a fall which restricted his movements to his room. Scholastics residing in the community took great care of him and remained always available at his service. We, as a Province, thank the Lord for blessing Br. John with good health and life. He had no diabetes, no pressure and no diseases. He always enjoyed good health.  

On January 12, 1914 Br. John Alphonso was born in Agashi, Vasai, a tiny hamlet of artisans engaged in ship-building. Like a ship not built to lie anchored in a safe harbour, the Lord filled his heart with a pioneering spirit to reach out to new frontiers, beyond the known and the tried. From his father, who served the Bombay Archdiocese as Treasurer for 50 long years, he learned always to give of his best with loving dedication and generous commitment. His parents, Reginald and Joanna, wanted the best for him, and so, in 1922, sent him to study at St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra.

From the Spanish Jesuits who came from the Philippines to take charge of the Bombay Mission from the German Jesuits, he imbibed cheerful obedience and availability for mission, wherever the Lord may call him. Responding whole-heartedly to God’s call, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1936, and was sent for his Novitiate to Calicut. His first assignments in the Goa Province were to serve at St. Mary’s, in Mapuca, and Loyola High School, in Margao. He then completed his Tertianship at Shembaganur, and took his final vows on August 15, 1946, at St. Paul’s High School, Belgaum. Br. Alphonso has shared his life in community - at Calicut, Mapuca,  Margao, Shembaganur, Belgaum, at St. Xavier’s, Kolhapur, in Loyola, Pashan, and over the last 28 years at St. Vincent’s, Pune, where he remained as an inspiration for his devotion, gentleness, his simplicity and deep religious convictions. 

To everyone he has always been a source of blessing by his enduring commitment to mission, personifying for almost 80 years the Ignatian charism of the Jesuit Brother!  As a pioneer, he had been missioned to every corner of the former Goa-Poona Province, to prepare the way like John the Baptist. Very often unnoticed, he had played a vital role in many a new beginning of our pioneering ministries in Belgaum, Margao, Kolhapur and Pune - working tirelessly to lay the foundations for others to build on……. Like John the Baptist, he had spent years in the wilderness, as he toiled for 13 long years in Desur, leveling the grounds, developing the farms, fields and orchards, and supervising the construction of the Xavier Training College buildings, which today serve as the Novitiate and Juniorate for our Bombay, Goa and Pune Jesuit Provinces.                                                       

 As a dedicated religious, well on in years but ever young at heart, he had spent his lifetime listening to the quiet whisper of the Lord in his daily devotions, in his prayer, and in the breaking of the Bread. He continued to proclaim God’s message, not so much in words, but rather by the witness of his life of dedicated service and compassionate outreach. Many have known him as a professional philatelist – an interest he developed as a hobby and which he pursued devotedly for the mission, to provide education and livelihood for many less privileged children and vulnerable widows. Everything that he had done was stamped by his meticulous planning and persevering dedication.  He himself was like a rare stamp in a rare collection, which like good red wine, matures, sparkles and grows ever more precious with the years! He had known times for sowing and times for reaping, times for rejoicing and times for mourning, times of quiet solitude, and times of noisy turbulence in the market-place and the bustle of the crowds. 

We thank him for the inspiration and blessing he was – as he taught us to listen attentively, and to give cheerfully with love, risking everything for the treasure we have set our hearts on – like a priceless, rare stamp for which we must be ready to give our all, without counting the cost……  May the good God grace his heavenly journey, as he follows with tireless zest and enthusiastic spirit where the Lord chose to lead him! May he continue to inspire us, his brothers and companions in mission, to cross boundaries and reach out for new frontiers…..  This great Jesuit was given a final farewell in St. Xavier’s Church, Pune on July 20, 2014 by Fr. Provincial, other Jesuits and friends and relatives. Emeritus Bishop Valerian D’Souza offered the funeral Mass, imploring the Lord to pardon Br. John Alphonso’s faults and limitations, and praying for his kind admittance in heaven. Now his mortal remains lies in the Hadapsar cemetery. May his soul rest in peace!  

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