Missionary Of the Day - Birthday of Rev. Fr. Pariza

Missionary Of the Day

Rev. Fr. Pariza completing 98 years today. 

Thanksgiving Mass is at 6:30 a.m. in St. Xavier's Church Anand.

Many Many Happy returns of the day.

Full Name : FR JOSÉ MARIA LÓPEZ DE PARIZA

Right : Rev. Fr. Pariza and Left : Rev. Fr. Jose Changa 

 Fr Pariza was born in Spain on 13 May 1917, the memorable day in which Our Lady appeared in Fatima for the last time to little children and hundreds of visitors. He joined the Society of Jesus on 1 October 1933. He was ordained in 1946. His first assignment after tertianship was to be a socius to the Novice Master. After a year he was sent as a teacher at Indauxu School in Spain. He was appointed to the Gujarat Mission. He reached Bombay (Mumbai) by ship in 1950 via Sri Lanka. After learning English in Bombay his first assignment was as assistant parish priest at Anand. Later he was assistant parish priest in Nadiad in 1953. He was appointed parish priest of Amod in 1956. In 1963 he was made parish priest of Anand. In 1970 he was made parish priest of Amod again. He spent a total of 22 years at Amod. He was made parish priest of Gothada from 1983 to1993. In 1994 he was appointed as assistant parish priest of Anand. So for the past 20 years he has been stationed in Anand.

 I am very fortunate to be living in the same Community as Pariza, at St Xavier’s Residence in Anand. Following are some of my observations of this great missionary.

 Fr Pariza is a man of prayer. He usually awakes at around 5.00 a.m., goes to the chapel to spend his time in prayer, then celebrates the Eucharist with his disciples up to 7.30 a.m. After breakfast he again spends time before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel. Not only does he daily read the breviary, he also challenges the superior and the community members to be faithful to the prayers of the Church. He ends his day again spending time in the chapel before retiring to bed at 11.00 p.m.

 He is a man on a mission. In former days he used to visit the people of Anand parish on his bicycle. For the last four years he has been asked to make his rounds by rickshaw. The rickshaw takes him to the area he intends visiting at 8.30 a.m. and brings him back at 12.00 noon. The rickshaw picks him up again at 4.00 p.m. and returns at 7.00 p.m.

 What does Pariza do on his visits? He listens to people and consoles them in their difficulties or sickness. If he finds someone really in need financial help, he gives it to them. If there are broken marriages or illegal ones, he rectifies them. The people fondly call him ‘Bhala Goval’ or ‘Good Shepherd’. He finds difficult to walk because of severe pain in his knees, but his visits distract him from the pain. Visiting people gives him maximum happiness.

 Every Christmas he prints a common letter to more than 100 friends and relatives. He writes their address on the envelope in his own hand and adds something personal in each letter, either inquiring or thanking them for gifts received. As a result people help him financially; he uses this money to build houses for people or to do charitable works.

 He manages everything on his own. He is a living saint in our midst. May God give him a long life and life eternal.

By Fr. Jerry Sequeira