Fr. Theo de Sales SJ (1928-2016)

Born: Feb 18, 1928

Died: April 9, 2016

Fr. Theo de Sales was born and brought up in a Poona Catholic family and had completed his schooling in St. Vincent’s Jesuit School. He had graduated in Arts and Law from Pune Colleges. For over four years he practised as a lawyer in Pune and Bombay. He was at the peak of his successful career when he took the big decision to leave everything and become an ardent follower of Christ.  Spending four formative years in Papal Seminary, he joined the Jesuits and completed his theology in JDV staying at De Nobili College. He was ordained a priest on 18/3/1964. After his studies for MA in Education at Loyola University, Chicago, U.S.A with Psychology and Counseling as special courses, he was sent to Loyola, Margao, Goa as school teacher and counselor as well as animator of the Catholic Students Union under AICUF and the Newman Association for working graduates.

Such a well learned and knowledgeable person Fr. Theo de Sales after serving His Master and His people for fifty-two years as priest bade farewell to this world and left for his eternal reward. Fr. Theo, by Profession was a renowned Lawyer, as a Priest he was a good pastor and counselor, and as a Jesuit he was a good administrator. In his fifty-two years of service as a priest he worked in the Pune, Goa and Nashik Dioceses engaging himself in these ministries- Jesuit Administration and Formation, as Urban and Missionary Parish Priest, as Spiritual Father, also in Marriage Apostolate and Counseling Ministries for Priest, Religious and Laity. He served the Province in various capacities as Socius to Provincial, Formation Coordinator, Rector and Superior and Principal of different renowned Institutions. For seven years he was Rector of Papal Seminary, Pune. He served the Nashik Diocese as its Vicar General and helped the Bishop in his administration. 

People loved him and he loved the people. Keeping God always at the center of his life, he offered ministries for the welfare of the people and always made efforts to empower people given to his care. Fr. Theo was a Man of God, a Man of People, a Man on Mission and a Man for Others. His returning to God is a big loss for the Province, the Society and the Church at large. In St. Paul’s words, he lived his life worthy of his calling.     

For a couple of months he was finding himself weak and unable to move around much though he enjoyed participating in all common celebrations. After a fall in 2015, he restricted his movements to the house, but he always showed willingness to celebrate the Eucharist for the community and to hear the confessions of the faithful. On the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2016, he participated in the community activities and celebration. On Monday April 4, 2016, he found it difficult to breathe and the uneasiness developed. He was then immediately rushed to the Seventh Day Advent Hospital, Pune, where he was in ICU. The Doctor who treated him told the Community Superior that both the kidneys of Fr. Theo had failed and he suffered a cardiac arrest. Being on the ventilator for a couple of days, he preferred to return to God, and on April 9, 2016, at 10.15am he breathed his last. He remained as a true son of St. Ignatius of Loyola.   

From Hitguj