FR. JOSEPH MENEZES SJ

                  12 June 1944 – 16 July 2018 

 

Fr. Joseph Menezes was born on 12th of June 1944 in Pune and brought up in Pune. He was inspired by the zealous dedication of the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers, especially those who had come as missionaries, who molded his heart and mind in St. Vincent’s High School and St. Xavier’s Parish. Responding generously to God’s call, he entered the Society of Jesus on June 20, 1962, and began to follow Jesus closely in his life. He had dedicated himself in service of the poor and needy. 

Having completed a Diploma in mechanical Engineering during his formation, technical education had remained his major apostolate all through the years of ministry. He had served at St. Joseph’s Technical Institute, Pune, and at the Xavier Technical Training Institute, Shrirampur, for years in various capacities moving back and forth between the two institutes, serving with commitments and love. 

As a Director, he introduced a number of relevant course to train less-privileged rural youth in both the institutes, to help them live a life of dignity and earn a livelihood to support their families. Under his able leadership, the technical institutes have grown as reputed centers for practical, professional skill-training and precision production.  

He has always cherished a deep love and heart for the poor. In the institutes, he has accompanied the poor students in their studies, and supported them financially, to help them stand on their own feet.  

As Parish Priest of Shrirampur and Kolhapur parishes, his parishioners always appreciated his availability, pastoral care, liturgical services and homilies. His reflections, rooted in the Ignatian spirituality, flowed from his heart, and inspired his congregation. Being a man of the Spiritual Exercises, he loved to share this treasure by giving retreats, especially to religious, and had been very much appreciated for his spiritual direction. The Province is grateful to him for his counsel, guidance and prayer. He passed away on 16th of July 2018 at Shrirampur. May the good Lord grant him eternal reward! Fr. Joe has touched the heart of the faithful and in reaching out across the miles, we count ourselves truly blessed. We pray that God may grant him eternal rest. 

 

 

FR. JAMES SHELKE SJ

                                      15 Mar. 1941 - 22 Sep. 2016 

 

Veteran missionary and visionary who toiled zealously for Christ and his people:  

 

My dear James, 

 

 You will always remain for me, not only in my memories but also in my personal life, a very special person. It is not that you were sweet and delicate with everyone you came in contact 

with, thank God for that, but whenever I think of you James, I think of you as a person who was so caring and full of love and affection especially for the poor. The Lord, whose love you have tried to spread in so many ways, has been waiting for you. You are now up there with Him, where all of us are going to be sooner or later.  

 

I just want to look back on the days and years – not very many actually - when we walked together and worked together for the young and the old. There have been others who have had the opportunity to walk the mile with you too and they will have other experiences to share.  

 

That walk began when you joined the Society in June 1962. That was about a month before I was to take my first vows. In those days there was a strict adherence to certain rules and ‘separation of communities’ was one of them. I was a ‘Brother Novice’ and you were a ‘Scholastic Novice’. That was the big difference and so, although we belonged to the same Province we really did not come to know each other that well in Vinayalaya.  

 

Then, while I went to St. Joseph’s, you finished your Juniorate in Vinayalaya and then went on for your studies in Philosophy, 3 years of Regency and studies in Theology before being ordained on 30th March, 1974. We did meet every now and then and so came to know each other a little better. But it was only in 1984, when I was transferred from St. Joseph’s Technical Institute in Pune to Xavier Technical Training Centre in Shrirampur, that I had my first real contact with you. I was part of the ‚Loyola Sadan Community‛ although I was staying in the XTTC Hostel just opposite. You were then the Parish Priest of Loyola Church, in Shrirampur.  Here was I, a town boy, coming into real contact with life in the missions! You were there to show me how to set my sails so that the sailing could be smooth. 

 

 In those days we had the wonderful company of Fr. Huber and Br. Widmer as well. Also there with us were Fr. Zinser and Br. Engel. What I remember very much is the wonderful community spirit that we had in Loyola Sadan, thanks to you and your ‘caring’ spirit. As the Parish Priest you were very close not only to the Catholic Community in Shrirampur but also to the larger community of Catholics in the more than 60 villages which were part of the Shrirampur Parish. On a number of occasions I went out with you and experienced the warmth that you radiated. The community was always so happy to have you there listening to them as they shared with you their joys and sorrows.  

 

One of the qualities that I cherished in you was your availability for the parishioners, the sick in the St. Luke’s Hospital and the communities in the villages around. You were truly remarkable. There were days when the asthma you were suffering from would get you out but for a very short time. You dealt with this as though there was nothing wrong and in no time you were up and about. The relationship between us and the Sisters of St. Luke’s Hospital, and the get-togethers every Sunday evening at 4 p.m. is something that I cherish to this day.  

 

What I also remember of you is the fact that you were one with truly green fingers. Little by little you were able to give life to the fields next to Loyola Sadan. Your love for nature was so evident and nature responded generously to your love. We had abundant water in the bore well 

of the community and the well in the Hostel to meet our daily needs and more. If you had wanted you could have had wonderful green fields also in summer. But, here is something that I learned from you and Br. Widmer. You knew what was more important and where water was needed more. In those days in summer the well of St. Luke’s did not have sufficient water for all its needs. Hence it was St. Luke’s that was the priority. You and Br. Widmer taught me the value of sharing. It was only a few years later that St. Luke’s got their well dug much deeper and so became independent.  

 

Thanks to your support and guidance we went ahead to build the new complex of XTTC opposite Loyola Sadan. When the buildings for XTTC were completed, the shed that Loyola Sadan had allowed XTTC to use for the ITI Fitter section was no longer needed by them. You did not turn that shed into a store room. Your passion to give the poor and the marginalised a good education showed itself immediately. You converted this shed into a Kindergarten. That was in a way the birth of our Xavier School in Shrirampur. This passion of giving the best education for the poor showed itself again when you were transferred to Shevgaon. And, you took your green fingers all the way there and in no time the dry lands started bearing fruit. 

 

 You were back in Shrirampur when I was assigned there in 2007. As Parish Priest one of the important things that you did was to have the Church building extended. You were later assigned to Divyavani and I was staying at what was formerly known as ‘Victor Garage’. Your passion for extending educational facilities for the poor and the marginalised showed itself again. You started the Loyola Institute of Management Technology at Divyavani and soon you started the Kindergarten in Katgali. In all this you taught me one thing: Do not wait for things to happen! Once again, your green fingers could not be preserved in a deep freeze. They needed action. You decided to take on lease, for a period of 6 years, the farm of the family in Katgali. This family had contributed the land for the Chapel that was built there. It became green and full of life again. By doing what you did there you were able to show the family and the community how valuable their land was and what could be done on it. 

 

 Let me now, in the name of all of us, just say a big ‘thank you’ to you James for being the very special person you were. You were a person who made a difference. On a personal level I want to thank you for the wonderful community life that I experienced at Loyola Sadan and Divyavani, which was very much because of you.  

FR. JAMES SHELKE, S.J., THE FINAL MOMENTS  

 

Fr. James died with his boots on, alive, up and about, a man on the move, ever smiling and cheerful. And so when he passed away so suddenly on the 22nd September, the news of his death came as a shock and surprise to everyone. No one expected him to go so fast, especially when there were others in waiting at the pearly gates of heaven.  

 

On Sunday 18th September, he offered three Masses that morning, first the usual Sunday Mass at Divyavani, next a funeral Mass at around 9.30 am and the third Feast day Mass of the Canossian Sisters at Shirasgaon. He must have been dead beat that day, tired and exhausted. Nevertheless, he came for the Community meeting and dinner with Fr. Provincial that evening at 7.00 pm. On Monday 19th September, due to his frequent travels and activities, he felt very exhausted and was burning with high fever. He was all alone that evening. Fortunately, Fr. Prakash Raut happened to visit him and admitted him to St. Luke’s Hospital.  

 

On Tuesday 20th September, he began feeling breathless and restless, extremely exhausted with the stream of visitors, relatives and well-wishers which made matters worse for him. On Wednesday 22ndSeptember, his condition worsened. His sugar went out of control. He experienced extreme breathlessness and his blood urea went very high. His sugar became very difficult to control due to uncontrolled diabetes. By late night he took a turn for the worse.  

 

On Thursday, around 1.00 am, he became more and more breathless and restless. The nurses and doctors put him on oxygen and soon discovered his kidneys were failing. He was unable to pass urine since the previous night and his whole body appeared puffed up and swollen. That Thursday morning after community Mass, I was having breakfast with the Sisters when suddenly there was a phone call that James was critical and that due to his fast failing kidneys he would need to be rushed to Nagar for dialysis. So at 8.00 am, Dr. Padgaonkar, CMO examined him and gave a referral for the doctors in Nagar. An ambulance with oxygen support was immediately kept ready.  

 

Since Fr. Joe G was already on his way to Nashik, Sr. Binny, private ward in-charge and I rushed him to Anand Rishi hospital. Fr. Joe D was asked to inform the hospital of the emergency case soon to arrive. He was immediately taken in the emergency room, admission procedures were completed and by 11.30 am dialysis was started. In the ambulance he was still conscious but very uncomfortable. By 1.30 pm he had his first heart arrest. The doctors and nurses revived him by administering CPU. They felt his heart could no longer take the dialysis and so it was discontinued. They then started him on drugs through IV. Between 3.30 and 4.00 pm he had a second heart arrest. The doctors by then felt his chances of survival were very remote. His pressure started dropping very drastically and his heartbeat was very abnormal. By around 6.00 pm he had a third heart arrest. The doctors had given up all hopes. He was still on ventilator support. Realizing the end was near, the doctors asked that his immediate relative have a last glance at him and pray over him. He breathed his last at about 7.30 pm surrendering himself to the Lord. By then Fr. Joe Gaikwad arrived since I was already on my way back to Shrirampur tired and exhausted. After completing all the discharge formalities and billing it was past 10.00 pm. By 1.00 am past midnight, his body was brought back to Shrirampur. Srs. Saroj and Theresiama were waiting to bathe him and dress the body. He was placed into the coffin and the body was kept for viewing in the hall and then in the Church. All through the morning a continuous stream of visitors came to pay their last respects, parishioners, staff and students.  

 

By 12.30 pm the body was moved to Sangamner for the funeral Mass and burial. More than 60 priests concelebrated with Bishop Lourdes Daniel and Fr. Bhausaheb as the main celebrants. The Church was overflowing and packed to capacity. The entire compound was packed with vehicles overflowing on the road. Perhaps, nobody has had such an overwhelming crowd of mourners. It was a testimony to how popular and loved James was. As Fr. Charlie D’Lima of happy memory called James, ‚the Apostle of Shrirampur‛, he was more than that, he was an apostle of the Ahmednagar and Beed Districts. James was a man always on the move, a man on a mission, always eager to do something for the betterment of his people. He established so many institutions wherever he went. He was a true son of Ignatius always eager to do more, the Magis. He had a large heart that reached out to people in need. His zeal, enthusiasm and dynamism are characteristic few can match. He made an incredible contribution to the Ahmednagar Mission. His ever cheerful face and smiling countenance endeared him to everyone. James must have had a warm welcome in heaven from all the past stalwarts of the Mission – Frs.Schubiger, Haldner, Sixt, Slapsys and the rest. We can imagine the good Lord saying to him, Come good and faithful servant, and enter into the joy of my heavenly home. 

 

FR. WALTER DE SOUZA, SJ

                                   20 Sep. 1925 – 7 Nov. 2015 

 

Born in a religious-minded family on 20th September 1925, Fr. Walter followed his brothers Edward and Vincent in joining the Society of Jesus (then Goa Mission), while three of his sisters became members of other religious congregations.  

After graduating in Arts and being a lecturer at Lingaraj College, Belgaum, for a few years, he entered the Jesuit Novitiate on March 18, 1951 at Vinayalaya, Andheri. After following the customary stages of Jesuit formation, he was ordained a priest for the Pune-Belgaum Mission on May 3, 1960 and completed his tertianship at Salamanca, Spain. Marked out for his academic performances, he completed two Masters Degrees in Arts and Education at Boston University, U.S.A.  

Then began his academic services in various Jesuit institutions. As teacher and Principal of St. Paul’s he is remembered for his strict enforcement of discipline and promotion of excellence in learning, summed up in his memorable phrase, ‘I expect teachers to teach and students to learn’. This was backed up by his example of personal commitment to all his school responsibilities. Here he also took care of the spiritual animation of college students in AICUF.  

As founder of St. Vincent Night College of Commerce, Pune, his zealous efforts to educate the Catholic youth ‘to earn and to learn’ through value education classes, First Friday Mass, annual retreats and personal visits to the families of the students have borne fruit in vocations to the Society. He is appreciated by the poor people to whom he reached out through on-going education in the only Catholic Night College of the Pune University. He has borne with great fortitude the difficulties of administering such an institution. He also obtained Post-Graduate recognition for this college. During this period, he completed his doctoral studies related to ‘Planning Economic Development for Education’ with a sense of determination, optimism and faith in the Lord. He also ventured on Post-doctoral studies on ‘The Economic Miracle of South Korea’, which was published in 1995. His publications are a testimony of his hard work and commitment to the Lord through academic research. 

 Parents remember him with affection for his friendly and persuasive ways, fatherly concern for their children whom he has formed to be responsible adults in family life. He has been faithful to the mission of the Society in various responsibilities entrusted to him. So also, his brothers, Fathers Vincent and Edward, who have gone to their reward, have done yeoman service in the Goa and Pune Provinces. He is remembered for his pioneering spirit in the educational field, as a professor and research scholar. He was also faithful to the grind of College lecturing and was recognized as a lucid exponent of economics, be it at St. Vincent's, Ness Wadia College, or at Stonyhurst College, U.K. 

 After he retired, he was sent to Loyola Jesuit Community, Pune. There he continued his research and served as Priest-in-charge at the N.D.A. From there he moved to Snehasadan and continued his research work. Recently he was shifted to St. Vincent’s Residence, where he was praying for the Society and the Church till 7th of November 2015 when he returned to his 

heavenly abode. He was 90 years of age and spent 64 years in the Society. May he continue to inspire us, his brothers and companions in mission, to cross boundaries and reach out for new frontiers in our intellectual apostolate. May the Lord bless him and give him kind admittance in heaven. May he experience fullness of life with the Lord!!  

 

FR. PATRICK D’ LIMA SJ

                                  09 Mar. 1932 – 4 Oct.2013 

 

A Tribute To Fr. Patrick D’lima: A Great Teacher And A Renowned Writer  

Persons recall the sight of Fr. Patrick D’ Lima as a Jesuit doing his daily exercises of marching and drill in school building or playgrounds. Such a regular sight of an elderly Jesuit inspired school boys in keeping up their exercises. At that sight others remembered St. Ignatius of Loyola, the marching ‚Noble Knight leader of a brave array struggling to promote God’s greater glory. Indeed Fr. Patrick’s entire life was a disciplined one, touching equally his spiritual and other duties, inspiring others to follow him. At birth Patrick was really at death’s door but was saved by an emergency baptism of an Irish nurse and kept alive by her loving care. Named Patrick by that nurse his parents rejoiced at seeing him alive and in prayerful gratitude took him to St. Francis Xavier’s shrine in Old Goa. Apparently the Lord preserved Patrick’s life to heed his call to him to be a Jesuit.  

After that, he kept good health, attended St. Vincent’s school nearby run by Jesuits and later completed his Bachelor of Arts in a Poona College. Athletics and sports gave him further strength in body while he cultivated his taste for music and singing. His father who served in the Indian railways and his mother lovingly faithful to her domestic duties gladly let him join the Society of Jesus as he desired, and happy to have made their own efforts along with others in nurturing his faith life.  

His years of formation readied him for priestly life and living out the Society’s charisms. After completing his B.Ed and his tertianship he was appointed as a Goa- Poona Jesuit to St. Paul’s School Community, Belgaum to take part in its educational apostolate. His years of service there lasted over 25 years. Like the faithful servant of the master he brought to bear on this work the flowering of his many talents. He never sought to become nor became a head master or a school manager. Till today he is remembered for his total investment of himself in the field of education at St. Paul’s. In the classroom and on the playfield, stage and platform he sought to bring the best out of his pupils minds and hearts, in their skills of body and voice, and by singing and playing musical instruments for the school band. Every year he found time to prepare the entire school time-table and made sure of moral science and religion for every class within government regulations. He even prepared his own series of moral science books for every class and another series of talks for school assemblies. Above all he gave those whom he taught values for life, especially by his own life style.  

His priestly zeal led him to foster his apostleship of prayer and First Friday mass after school hours. In the town he also put up a yearly religious play for people, often on a saint’s life or some religious theme. The money he earned from these plays he distributed to missionaries through his catholic staff and school boys whom he took for visits to mission stations. Likewise collections from Christmas carol singing for which he trained boys to visit the home of Christians. These activities in turn fostered priestly/religious vocations.  

After retirement from schools he took up several appointments as parish priest or assistants at Pune, Satara, Panchgani and Kolhapur. After these ministries he was sent to candidate’s houses in Kolhapur and in Pune to teach English and be a Spiritual Father for over 10 years. In spite of being hard of hearing he forged ahead in such assignments. During all these ministries there flowed from his resourceful pen many simple, readable spiritual publications expressed in short practical ways of Christian prayer and living. He offered such earnings from this source for Jesuit works. Thus he passed his spare time profitably.  

As regards preparations for offering masses he took pains to write and use short notes for his homilies and preserve these for future use. He readily helped out in writings called for by the provincial when he lived at the provincialate. Naturally he kept his marching and drills till old age and illness began to take their toll on him and he required doctors’ aid and hospital care. He passed away on 4th October, 2013. May he who led many a choir in earthly melodies hear the angelic choirs in heavenly harmony while enjoying the eternal vision of God! 

FR. ANIL SOARES SJ

 

                                                   04 Apr. 1945- 28 Apr. 2011 

  

“His face was fixed towards Jerusalem” 

For a man who was always careful about details, and meticulous to an extraordinary extent, about matters pertaining to his or others’ health, Anil’s apparent  lack of attention to his own health during the last few days, or weeks, of his sojourn here on earth, certainly does seem incoherent.  But that, seemingly, is what led to Anil’s sudden demise on the twenty-eighth of April, hardly 24 days after he had celebrated his 66th birthday, on 4th April.  One fails to understand why he omitted to pay attention to the signals his heart was giving him in the last couple of months or so.  Had he done so, and paid a visit to his regular doctor, he may have discovered that the stent that had been given him about twenty years earlier had collapsed. Unfortunately, he also ignored, or wrongly read, during the two days preceding his death, his body signals, considering them as stomach discomfort, etc., instead of preliminaries to a much more serious heart problem.  Could it be that in some way, “His face was fixed towards Jerusalem?” (Luke 9/51).  

Yes.  Once Anil was diagnosed for having a weak heart condition, and had an Angioplasty administered to him, in 1990 or so, he was very particular about his diet and a strict, daily exercise regimen.  Come rain or shine, every evening he would be seen walking briskly up and down in the compound or down a long corridor.  Whatever the occasion, parties, banquets and big dinners could tempt him only to a very limited extent.  So abstemious and self-controlled was he!  

And yet, despite the diminutive body that he possessed, he was very energetic and dynamic in carrying out his daily duties.  Phone call after phone call …. slowly and steadily, Anil would demolish his long list of phone calls for the day.  Being a “Socius” (Assistant and Companion) to the Provincial is not an easy task; and the number of communications that had to be made daily was great.  Yet, each one was made promptly and efficiently.  Reminders were sent out regularly, and no one in the province could forget that there was still some job that had to be completed by a certain deadline.  It is no wonder that the newsletter got to be printed and 

published according to schedule every month.  Yes.  Anil had an excellent style for follow-up and implementation of matters that had been earlier decided at meetings, or by the Provincial. 

Then there were the frequent walks he took, from point to point in the Provincialate itself.  Anil walked briskly and with determination.  There was always some goal to be achieved; and he was going to attain it by all means.  There was no question that he was goal-oriented, doing everything for the greater glory of God and good of souls. 

As a young priest, having completed his B.Ed. and M. Ed. Studies from Pune University, Anil was sent to Loyola University of Chicago, where obtained an M.A. in English within a couple of years.   

 

As a Principal, Anil was known for his strictness, spirit of fairness and impartiality, qualities, which I am sure he inherited from his father, who was himself a school Principal, when the family was in Goa.   Staff and students both, knew that he meant business.  He had a strong sense of duty, was truly committed to his task, and had a no-nonsense approach, which everybody recognized.  While being approachable to the parents of the school children, the latter knew full well that they would not always get what they wanted.  Thus, Anil was able to influence very many people in the four schools of which he was Principal – St. Britto’s, Mapuca, Loyola High School, Pune, St. Vincent’s, Pune and St. Joseph’s Night School, Pune. 

What many remember of Anil in particular, was his kind, welcoming smile, whenever a guest met him in the house.  He was ever ready to be of some service to the one who was in need.  He was a good religious, a thorough gentleman, ever polite and gracious, and with a true spirit of humility.  He took very special care of the sick Jesuits in his community, always making it a point to visit them at every opportunity, trying to make them a little more comfortable during their time of trial. 

His concern for the sick and also for the poor, was evident whenever he had a chance to help out in a parish.  Taking Holy Communion to the sick in the neighbourhood was something he relished.  His preference for the underprivileged was also manifest in his formulation of policies for admission of school children. 

Anil got his strength to serve enthusiastically and cheerfully, from his prayer. This latter he never neglected. Not only was he constant in his personal prayer, but he also could be seen regularly pacing up and down while reciting the rosary.  It is no wonder that he was often invited to hear the confessions of Sisters, and to sometimes preach retreats to them.  That is why too, he was appointed the Coordinator for the Ignatian Spirituality Province Commission. 

Fitting and proper it was then, that the St. Xavier’s Church was crowded at the time of the funeral Mass for Anil on 29th April. Several non-Christian ex-students also attended the service.  Bishop Thomas Dabre celebrated the Mass, with assistance from former Pune Bishop, Valerian D’Souza and Fr. Bertie Rozario, Provincial. About 40 priests also concelebrated.   

One of the consequences of Anil’s personal, serious commitment to duty, and constantly being on the run, was that he sometimes fell prey to tension and worry.  He always wanted to make 

sure he was doing the right thing and that too, in the best way possible.  Problems do not always have a way of fitting into boxes or categories that easily, and so they can cause anxiety.  Maybe that too played some role in Anil’s already weak heart being further affected.  But problems or tensions notwithstanding, Anil was not going to let such things come in his way of serving God faithfully and wholeheartedly.   He was a man of deep motivation and solid determination.  And he never floundered when it was a question of fixing his face toward Jerusalem, his ultimate goal.  

FR. SURESH SHELKE SJ

                        6 July 1973 – 20 Dec. 2010 

 

 

As the whole world was getting ready to celebrate the New Year 2011, Fr Suresh Shelke took the leap into the New Life to celebrate the New Year with Renewed Life with the Lord. Suresh was born on 6 July 1973 in a pious catholic family in his home town Umbri in Sangamner Taluka. He was the youngest of seven siblings. His father is a retired teacher and mother, a house wife. Two of his brothers have also left for their heavenly abode before him. The eldest brother is in the navy. He has three sisters.  

 

He completed his schooling from the well-known Jesuit school, Dnyanmata Vidyalaya, Sangamner. He got the inspiration to work in the Vineyard of the Lord from the lives of Jesuits working there, says his nephew, Sch. Sachin Gaikwad. Fr. Suresh did extraordinarily well in his studies throughout his Jesuit formation. When asked about his very good performance in studies, he shared about his mother. His mother used to work tirelessly in the field in order to help Suresh to complete his education. Looking at her hard work, Suresh too used to work hard to get good results in his studies so that he could give his mother the fruit of her hard work in the form of his results, shares Sachin. He had a great love for his parents.  

 

After finishing his 12th Std. in Agriculture Science, in Dnyanamata Vidyalaya, he joined the Society on 30 May 1994. On completion of his Novitiate in Belgaum, he was sent to Kathmandu, Nepal for his Juniorate Studies. He did his philosophical studies in Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, completed his graduate studies from Wadia College, Pune, and theological studies in Vidyajyoti, Delhi. He did his regency at Social Centre, Ahmednagar and Nagaland, in the North East. Suresh had also finished his Masters in Anthropology with flying colours. Looking at his good results in Masters in Anthropology and in theological studies, Fr. Provincial allowed him to pursue his Doctoral Studies in Anthropology after his Ordination on 7 November 2009.  

 

After his ordination Suresh was sent to Social Centre, Ahmednagar. He was the Programme Coordinator for the B.S.W. College plus the Project Coordinator. He was also the house Minister of the Jesuit Community. And with all this, he was doing his Doctoral Studies. He 

was a very simple friend but spiritual to the core. He was very regular in his prayer and Mass. His option for the poor was very much seen in his ministry. He identified himself with the poor. He had a great love for the poor and the marginalized. He would say that we cannot see God; what we can see are the people around us and we see God in them and love them. When asked about the Jesuit life he shared that it’s a beautiful life and gives ample opportunities to do good. When you are given any responsibility to do, do it hundred percent and not be happy with a little, he would add. He had many friends in the Society as well as outside because of his simple behaviour.  

 

Fr Suresh attended the Ordination and First Mass of James Selvaraj at Wellington. After the First Mass on December 29, he went to the Convent to pick up his luggage as he wanted to proceed to Ooty. As he neared the jeep, he collapsed. He was taken to Nankem Hospital in Coonoor in Tamilnadu where a three-doctor-team tried their best to save Fr. Suresh from the massive heart attack, but they couldn’t save him. He surrendered his life into the hands of his Heavenly Father and breathed his last at 11.20 a.m. The funeral Mass was held at St. Mary‟s Church, Sangamner, on 30 December 2010 at 3.00 p.m. and was well attended by innumerable Priests, Religious, staff members where he worked, friends, students, both past and present, and hundreds of lay faithful who bid him a fond and final adieu. He was thereafter laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Sangamner. God grant him eternal joy, and abundant blessings to his parents, relatives and friends.   

 

The untimely death of Fr. Suresh Shelke…. 

 

December 29, 2010 shocked all of us present in Wellington with the news of the demise of Fr. Suresh Shelke. No one could believe in the sent SMS. Fr. Suresh was very much present for the first Mass of Fr. James Selvaraj. After the Mass, Fr. Suresh was in his usual happy humour. While having breakfast, he introduced his friends to Fr. Bertie, the provincial. He had breakfast with us. A Jesuit from Madurai Province, who came for the first Mass, Fr. Amalraj, companion of Fr. Suresh, invited four of us, Fr. Bertie, Fr. Suresh, Fr. Ramesh and me to have a lunch with the Jesuit community in Ooty. We all got ready to proceed to Ooty. Fr. Suresh wanted to pick his luggage up from the Convent where he was staying. Accompanied by Fr. James, Fr. Suresh went to get his luggage and the jeep was standing hardly twenty meters away from the place.   Fr. Suresh and Fr. James returned to the jeep. As they reached near the jeep, Fr. Suresh collapsed. We gave him a chest and leg massage, and then he got up and sat down there for few minutes. Then he spoke to everyone. He told Fr. Bertie that he could proceed to Ooty. Fr. Ramesh Tribhuvan stayed back with him. In the meanwhile a Doctor-nun came to assist Fr. Suresh.  

 

After twenty minutes Fr. James Selvaraj rang me up and told me that Suresh was brought to the hospital and the doctor from Nankem Hospital, Coonoor would like to speak to Fr. Bertie. The doctor told Fr. Bertie, that a three-doctor-team tried their best to save Fr. Suresh from the massive heart attack, but they couldn’t save him. The Parish priest of Wellington, his two 

assistants and twelve to fourteen nuns from three different convents rushed to save Fr. Suresh’s life. With a loud shout Fr. Suresh surrendered his life into the hands of his Heavenly Father and breathed his last at 11.20 a.m. on 29.12.2010 at Nankem Hospital in Coonoor. This shocking news of a young Jesuit, Fr. Suresh, left everyone present at the hospital dumb. No one would believe that Fr. Suresh was no more. It shook all of us. Our province members, companions of Suresh from far and wide, received the news through the SMS; but many could not believe it. They called us and confirmed the news. May his soul rest in peace and may the loving God grant him eternal rest!  

 

FR. EDWIN SEQUEIRA SJ

                                 

                                            1928 - 2010 

 

 On Christmas Eve 2010 before Pune’s St. Xavier’s Church Christmas bells pealed and the strains of joyous carols broke out, the coffin bearers quietly brought into the church the mortal remains of Fr. Edwin Sequeira for his funeral Mass. The God –with- us gently called him from his suffering bed at St. Luke’s hospital, Shrirampur to celebrate the eternal banquet of the “Onein-Three”. His calm face in death yet bore marks of his last struggle with pneumonia.  

 

Born in a small catholic family in Nairobi, Kenya in 1928, he began his schooling there. A sudden car accident brought him at the age of eight to death’s door; however the fervent parental prayers and promise of offering him to the Lord to be a priest if Edwin recovered were mercifully heard. Not long after, Fr. Edwin’s mother passed away and his father was relieved of his work due to a persistent ailment; then after remarrying he returned to India, settling down in Pune. Here his sons Edwin and Joe were admitted to St. Vincent’s High School, and daughters to St. Anne‟s Convent close by. Edwin, devoted to home and studies, faired quite well in school, but was not given to playing games and joining in sports. As an altar boy at St. Xavier’s Church and as a sodalist in the school sodality, he grew up in his desire to be a priest and even joined a group of other Vincentians who met informally to foster such desires.  

 

Soon after his matriculation in 1944, Edwin spent three years in the Papel Seminary (Mumbai) to become a Pune Diocesan priest, but left it to join the Pune Jesuit Mission. On 5-1-1948 he began his novitiate in Vinayalaya, pronounced his first vows in 1950 and carried on through other Jesuit formation stages. In March 1959 he was ordained a priest and in February 1965 took his final vows. Among his special courses were: firstly graduating as B.A with Sanskrit and other subjects from S.P.College; secondly completing a Jesuit Spirituality Course at the Gregorian University, Rome; thirdly courses at Columbia University in New York for teaching English. He could cope with these and many other assignments. Incidentally, his frequent visit to doctors during his long life due to various ailments may have been caused by his early brush with death and a sense of insecurity in health matters.  

 

His long years in Spiritual Ministries formed the core of his priestly life. He served as a Spiritual father and English teacher at XTC Belgaum, similarly seven years at the Papal Seminary, Pune and eleven years at the Diocesan Seminary, Allahabad and at BTC Juniorate, Pune. He was also house minister at XTC and at the Papal Seminary. Besides he is remembered as a retreat preacher and director for priests, religious (men and women). Our late Fr. General commended him “for his compassionate understanding and effective ministry of the living word” and for serving “as a model of Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd”. His family, scattered in India, U.K and U.S.A have affectionately recalled his visits especially to his brothers and 

sister. His sense of humour, gift of storytelling and counselling them in their personal life situations have been treasured by them. His passionate love for western classical music was marked by his family and others.  

 

Finally in his last years at Shrirampur his friendly disposition and patience in his trials were noteworthy in imitation of Him “who was born to die for mankind so that” “men live for evermore because of Christmas day”. R.I.P  

FR. THOMAS AMBROSE SJ

                                         

                                        30 Dec. 1938 – 2 Dec. 2010  

 

 Fr. Thomas Ambrose, SJ, Manager of St. Vincent’s Night College, Pune, breathed his last at St. Vincent’s Jesuit Residence, after a brief illness at 11.00 a.m. on December 2, 2010. The funeral Mass held at St. Xavier’s Church, Pune, on December 3, at 9.30 a.m. was well attended by Priests, Religious, staff members of different Institutions where he worked, friends and students both past and present. Fr. Ambrose was thereafter laid to rest at St. Sepulchre’s cemetery, Hadapsar.  

 

Thomas Ambrose was born on December 30, 1938 at Miraj in Maharashtra, to Abraham and Katherine. He was the seventh child in a family of eight siblings. At the young age of 17, he decided to dedicate his life as a religious, serving the poor and marginalized. And so he joined the Society of Jesus in June 1955. After undergoing his Novitiate and Juniorate at Vinayalaya, Mumbai, and completing his Philosophy and Theology at De Nobili College and Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, he was ordained on March 17, 1970 at St. Xavier’s Church, Pune. His final incorporation in the Society of Jesus was on August 15, 1974.  

 

Fr. Ambrose had a string of degrees attached to his name, and yet, he was humble to the core. He held many important offices right after his ordination as Director/Teacher, Principal, Professor, Dean of Studies, Vicar-General, Parish Priest, Minister and finally Manager of St. Vincent’s Night College, Pune. He had a flare for languages and was a good linguist. Besides being proficient in the English language, Fr. Ambrose also knew French, Marathi, Hindi to some extent, Latin, and of course Greek.  

 

A man of few words, Fr. Ambrose was very faithful to his prayer life and prepared his sermons well which were meaningful and inspiring. He was simple, committed, dedicated, responsible, disciplined, and a man of principles. He was very straightforward and never compromised on his principles to suit his own interest or to please people. His health was never his priority. On the contrary, he paid little or no attention to health matters. He worked tirelessly serving the community and carrying out his responsibilities faithfully and efficiently. His outlook was very simple. But his spirit of poverty was remarkable; he possessed literally nothing – except a few books and the bare minimum clothes. His austere lifestyle was one of the hallmarks that distinguished his personality. He lived an authentic life and remained true to his call.  

 

As a true disciple of Jesus, he always did what was pleasing to God. For those who knew him more closely, he was a man of humour and his intellectual conversations provided food for thought. Fr. Thomas Ambrose no doubt has inspired and influenced many, and, with his humble 

outreach has left a lasting impact on the lives of those who knew him and worked with him. God Grant Him Eternal Rest.  

FR. DONATUS SLAPSYS SJ

                                                    

                                                      13 Mar. 1921 – 19 Aug. 2010 

 

Fr. Donatus Slapsys SJ, who was sent by the German Jesuit Province to work as a missionary in the rural parts of the Ahmednagar District, breathed his last at the Nitya Seva Hospital, Shevgaon, Ahmednagar, on August 19, 2010. 

Fr. Slapsys was born on March 13, 1921 in Siauliai, the third biggest town of Lithuania but grew up mostly in Kauna. After the first four years of Jesuit formation in the home country, Fr. Slapsys was sent to Germany for studies in Philosophy and Theology in Berchmanskolleg in Pullach near Munich. He studied philosophy and theology very diligently and was a Jesuit who meticulously adhered to the laws and rules of the Society not only during his studies, but all his life. He was ordained Priest on July 27, 1947 in Pullach. During his studies in Germany, his home country was attacked and occupied by the Bolshevik forces of the Soviet Union. The Catholics underwent bloody persecution and his return home became impossible. After theological studies in Munich, he went to America, where the Jesuits who had been sent out of Lithuania were looked after by their banned fellow countrymen. He did his Tertianship at the Grand Coteau, USA. The American Jesuits were generous in financing the higher studies of Fr. Slapsys, and he completed his Master’s Degree in Education in 1950. 

During his stay in America, Fr. Slapsys got acquainted with a number of American Jesuits who had been missionaries in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), and through them his interest to work in the Mission Stations grew and developed. He thought of going to Sri Lanka as a missionary, but circumstances lead him to the Pune Mission. He arrived in India on October 26, 1950, and went immediately to Sangamner in the Ahmednagar District to learn Marathi under Fr. Zinser. He worked alongside his German and Swiss friends, some of whom had studied with him in Germany. 

Right from his Scholastic days it was Fr. Slapsys’s wish to make people aware of the teachings of Christ and bring them to Him. His own faith in Christ remained the most important thing in his life. Christ was his Guru. The response of Fr. Slapsys to the teachings of Christ has been his faithful service to God’s people in the Ahmednagar District. Fr. Slapsys was a very shy person and consequently very sensitive to praises. He very rarely spoke about himself and refused to answer questions about his person, relations and achievements, a good administrator, he prepared his sermons well and his catechism classes methodically. He was also very systematic in keeping records of the names and families he visited, the sacraments administered, etc. he was very faithful to his prayer life, loyal to the Society of Jesus and was known for his great charity.  

Fr. Slapsys was laid to rest in the Holy Spirit Church compound, Shevgaon in the presence of a large member of people and priests from the Pune and Nashik Dioceses. God grant him eternal rest!