Tuesday, December 16, 2014

MAN OF A SACRED HEART – Rev. Fr. Stephen D’Souza, SJ

MAN OF A SACRED HEART – Rev. Fr. Stephen D’Souza, SJ

It is exactly after 18 years of Fr. Stephen D’Souza’s death at Catholic Ashram, Kalol, today on 16th December 2014, the Kadi-Kalol Jesuit community and the people of Kalol fondly remember once again our past Pastor. As part of the holy remembrance, the Holy Eucharist is arranged in the Kalol catholic church - Our Lady of the Perpetual Succour - Nitya Sahayak Mata Mandir. It is worth mentioning at this moment, soon after his death, a decision was taken to bury his body at the side of this Mandir. Thus, here at Kalol tomb rests his mortal body from 16th December 1996 and continues to intercede for the Christian and non-Christian communities of Kalol, for he was the real grandfather – DADA for all at Kalol. Here below let me mention my intensive enhancing encounter with such a pastor, our dear D’Souza Bapu!

After my formative study period of Bachelor of Philosophy at Pune Jnana Deepa Vidhyapeeth, I was sent to Kalol Catholic Ashram in June 1992 to shoulder an important responsibility as a Prefect to take care of the boarding boys who were from various mission stations of North Gujarat and were being educated in St. Anne School (from 1st to 4th) and St. Xavier’s School (from 5th to 12th). On my arrival I was introduced to the active Jesuit Fathers – Robert Mascarenhas (Manager and Parish Priest), Cosmas K (Principal), Fidelis and Lazarus Parmar (Teachers) and Stephen D’Souza (a senior Assistant Parish priest). Among all, Stephen was the eldest and the visible humblest person of the entire apostolic community.

As days went on, I got involved more in the boarding and school programmes, and was busy forming the boarders and others through various interesting integral activities. As a community we got clicked very well and were busy in our Faith-Justice mandate. Though I was youngest in the Jesuit community, I never felt left out, for I always had the support of the community. Among all, Fr. Stephen, though he was the eldest, still he was my available special companion to assist voluntarily in our boarding ministry. Age was not our barriers!

As my life and mission were on in the midst of such veterans, I was often spoken of Fr. Stephen’s great works in Jamnagar and his consistent long missionary and pastoral visits to the migrant Catholics in the civil regions of North Gujarat. I was happy to know from others that the construction of the Sacred Heart Church in Jamnagar city was started by Fr. Stephen. He was the first resident priest who guided the Catholic community from 1948 to 1966 and in his time it was blessed by Bishop Edwin Pinto SJ of Ahmedabad on 3rd December 1967. From our conversations it was very clear that he, besides building buildings, gradually was building human hearts to be and to become sacred!    

Here at Kalol, his heart was a sacred heart to me and many other persons. Now, let me state a few kind sacred heart activities of Fr. Stephen which I cherish even today!

·      I always noticed him getting up early in the morning and without fail joined the morning prayer with our boarding children. He would notice the absentees and personally would call and council them politely to be part of the praying community. His formation was very much non-threatening. Children could freely go and talk to him and get comforted with his grandfatherly nurturing attitude and approach.
·       As soon as the boarders leave for their morning study, he would alone spend his quality time in silence in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord and draw energy from the Blessed Sacrament. I had seen several times he alone smilingly conversing with Jesus and Mary in the chapel. We could feel how he was hungering and thirsting for God and in turn how God was at home with this child-like Stephen and was teaching him like the school Master!

·      He was very regular and particular in celebrating the Eucharist either alone or with the community in the morning itself. For he was very much aware of his forthcoming whole day involvements. He would devoutly light the candles and without much hurry, he would relish the Eucharistic celebration. All who attended his morning Eucharist would feel how the energy was being shared through Stephen Bapu and how he gently invited the mass attendants to get involved themselves for Christ and Christ alone.

·      He constructively spent his available time in reading news papers and magazines.  He used to reach my room and share the important happenings of the world and in particular used to express his great concerns for human life. He was deadly against anything that hindered life, especially he was against all forms of abortion. On this issue I had posted very many post cards which were beautifully written by him to the President of India. His pain was towards the embryos and foetuses being crushed in the wombs of the mothers! He would mention about it in his homilies and pray for all kinds of anti-social elements. His strong Faith always motivated him to fight for Justice!

·      He was the man of the poor. All the poor neighbourhood persons found solace in his company. The poor never needed any mid-persons to approach him. He was easily met at the entrance of the Ashram and they could have heart-to-heart conversations. He was aware of the Society of Jesus’ OPTION FOR POOR slogan. Well. Besides he opted for poor, he opted to be poor and to be with the poor. When people were going for electric heaters and solar systems to heat the water, he used to fill four empty wine bottles with water and would leave them on the terrace in the morning. In the afternoon he would collect them to have warm water path. He loved to be simple and creative. He, on his own, appreciated the wealth of God’s nature and was inter-dependent with them. He embraced poverty as an evangelical value. His life was touched by the neighbourhood rickshaw drivers and they joyfully assisted him in his short travels in the city and suburban area. They never demanded money from him instead they bowed their heads to receive blessings from this spiritual leader.  

·      His evening hours were filled with various kinds of visits. He loved to visit the sick of the town. He would listen to them and hear confessions; and if needed he would even give communion to them. Besides Christian families, he would assist me by taking the sick children of the boarding to Dr. B.H. Sanghani, MD, Consultant physician in Kalol. This polite Dr. Sanghani has been our family doctor since starting of his profession in Kalol. In the picture we can see his beloved wife Dr. Padma and his mother who are the real back bone of his service. After these many years of Fr. Stephen’s death, even now he affectionately remembers him and his unassuming services to the poor children and other needy persons. He often speaks to me of the SACRED HEART of Fr. Stephen. Today, Dr. Sanghani is the living witness of Fr. Stephen’s unconditional love for the poor and needy. Having seen and experienced such humble services of Fr. Stephen, long back Dr. Sanghani had decided not to charge any consultation fees from our Catholic institutions of Kadi, Kalol and Mandali. Amazing! Besides not charging any money from us for health consultations, recently he has come forward and communicated to me to assist the poor students in their educational journey too. Truly, Dr. Sanghani’s heart had been touched long back by the life and mission of our dear service-minded Stephen Bapu! Thanks to our eternal living Fr. Stephen and thanks to our earthly living Dr. Sanghani to all of us here in God’s Mission. Real edifying persons to be admired always!

Yes. The great missionary of Jamnagar built long back in the city – THE SACRED HEART CHURCH. Later, in the town of Kalol and around, by his presence, perseverance and pastoral care he kept on sharing his Sacred Heart with the poor, needy and marginalized persons of our human society. Truly, at the end, in and around Kalol, this ‘Sacred Heart’ was at home with the persons of all denominations and religions without any discrimination. His was a Sacred Heart which embraced all with love and service! May he bless us to love and serve all! Amen.

Girish Santiago, SJ

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