Rev. Fr. Anthony (Tony) Andrade
It gives me great pleasure and I must say that I am privileged to introduce to you our own Barkurian Rev. Fr. Anthony Andrade, better or popularly known as Fr. Tony.
He was not born to be a priest, but as the expression goes he is a ‘born priest.’ You will agree with me when you read his accomplishments.
Fr. Tony was born on 4th March, 1963, to Mr. Xavier Andrade and Mrs. Benedicta Andrade, in Nagarmutt belonging to St. Peter’s Parish, in Barkur. Benedicta, means the one who speaks well, Bene=good, dicta for diction, was a school teacher for over 40 years in Sastan, at St. Antony’s Elementary Schools, a next door parish to Barkur. She was better known as Benny Teacher, a skinny lanky tall lady. His father worked in Bombay for some time.
It appears, she taught her son the ‘art of diction’, because when Fr. Tony delivers sermons with such fluent diction, both in English and in Konkanni his mother-tongue, folks, ‘everybody listens’, not a whisper from anyone else!
They had six children 3 girls and 3 boys. These children were practically raised by the mother, since Xavier was away from home working in Bombay. At present all the children are well settled. Eldest son Jerald is married to Janet who has 2 children, and they are all settled down in Bangalore. Janet is the 2nd child in line who is married to Fredrick Lasrado of Kota parish and they have 3 daughters. Then there are the famous two sons, the twins the identical twins. They are: (drums, please): Anthony Ronald (Rony), and Joseph Anthony (Tony). Rony is a Laboratory Technician/Scientist. He worked for 10 years at Almana General hospital in Saudi Arabia and his wife Sharmila also worked in the same hospital. Now they have returned home to care and raise their family and to educate their children. At present Rony is running Pathological laboratory in Sastan, named ‘Allina Clinical Lab.’ Recently he opened an Allina Gift shop in the same building, which shows that he is prospering. Jacintha is 5th in line and married to George Fernandes of Puttur (Our Lady of Rosary Parish, Kallianapura.) who have 3 children. Youngest in the family of Benedicta is Freeda married to Wilson Pinto of Bangalore and they are settled there with their daughter.
Tony’s primary education, (up to 5th Grade), was at St. Anthony’s School in Moodahadu village, Sastan, and his Higher Primary, (6th to 8th Grade) was from Maryknoll School, of Barkur St. Peter’s parish. He completed his high school and obtained his Pre-University Degree in 1980 from the internationally known, the National Junior College, of Barkur.
At the time of ordination by Bishop Thomas Fernando, on 19th Dec. 1992
He is a Roman Catholic Priest, He joined the seminary in 1980, and was ordained on 19th December, 1992. His very first appointment was at St. Patrick’s Church in Bangalore, as the Associate Pastor for 10 months.
Mother kisses the newly ordained priest son’s hands, as sister Freeda watches on.
Presently Fr. Tony is working in the Archdiocese of St. Paul, Minneapolis, USA. Benny teacher gets the credit for bearing, rearing, raising, training, molding, scolding, feeding, and for making a priest out of Tony, even though he was a born priest! She is the one who instilled the qualities needed to become a Roman Catholic Priest.
Responding to the call of Archbishop John R. Roach of St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese Tony came to the state of Minnesota in USA in December 1993. Fr. Tony was appointed as Chaplain at the United and Children’s hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, and also as one of the Associate Pastors at the Cathedral of St. Paul. In 1995 Fr. Tony was transferred to the Church of St. Mark in St. Paul (Folks, St. Paul is the name of a city, a twin city to Minneapolis.), to be the associate Pastor while continuing chaplaincy at the hospital.
Meanwhile he attended the University of Minnesota where he obtained his M.A. degree in Pastoral Counseling.
With the Bishop Richard Pates of St. Paul & Minneapolis Diocese, a deacon Richard Moore.
He was appointed as the Parish Priest (Pastor) of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, St. Paul, in the year 2000. A prestigious position he holds to this day. Very few immigrant priests get such opportunity because of the tremendous responsibility involved. This only shows the trust, love, and respect of the clerical hierarchy, and also of the parishioners. Tony, you have brought pride to Barkurians, and have put Barkur on your diocesan map!
Tony is loved and respected by his parishioners. It is not easy for a priest to be popular in USA, specially where the nuns and ladies belonging to various groups such as Altar and Rosary Society, and lay men/women too, run and control various church activities. Juggling multiple activities, to everyone’s satisfaction, has been Tony’s daily motto.
Fr. Tony goes to his native India every year, to spend time with especially with his mother. Apparently he misses her fish curry. He helps our fellow Barkurians in several ways. He takes gifts, clothes, toys etc, whenever he goes to Barkur. However, he does not want to reveal such details, being humble and shy perhaps. I had to ask him several times about this. He has contributed thousands of Rupees for the Parish Hall (yet to be built) and to St. Peter’s Church for various activities. His own left hand does not know how much of donations his right hand has given away.
Fr. Tony enjoys celebrating the Holy Mass in Konkanni, whenever he goes to Barkur. He makes it a point to visit the sick, and the less fortunate, helping financially and/or by listening and counseling to their problems.
One of his long cherished dream is to build an Orphanage, in combination with ‘Home for the aged’ in Barkur. He can foresee the dire need. Dream is starting to get materialized. By saving from his allowances, he has already bought 2 acres of land in Heradi, near Barkur. The land is fenced already at some cost. The water well is being dug and built with considerable cost. Depending upon money, he plans to build a building in a year or two. He has not decided yet, how or who will run this orphanage, perhaps a group of peoples, or by nuns, or by St. Peter’s Church… remains to be seen. Please note, he has not solicited any money from others for this pet project of his. He should be congratulated for his good deeds and selfless service to Barkur as well.
“Let the little children come to me!”
As Barkuronline.com’s regular readers, you all are aware of the spiritual corner maintained by Fr. Tony. Some of us eagerly wait for his next article. Folks, this is the only section, which is updated regularly, consistently, and wholeheartedly. For this B.com team is eternally grateful. Fr. Tony, please do keep this up, for we want B.com to stay alive for a long time. “When God is with us, who can be against us?” Thanks again.
Barkuronline.com and the Parishioner’s of St. Peter’s Parish, and especially the Barkurians in USA wish you great success thus more and more people benefit physically, materially, and most importantly spiritually.
-James Fernandes, USA