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Rev. Fr. Joseph D’Souza, better known as Aab Padryab of
Barkur
We take it as a great honor to write these few lines about a
saintly priest who served at Barkur parish, being his last in
tenure of some 50 long years.
Rev. Fr. Joseph D’Souza,
popularly known as Aab Padrayab, came to Barkur at the age
of 69, on 31st January, 1972.In fact it was a tough but
perfect choice by the then Bishop to appoint him, to walk into the
shoes of Rev. Fr. Aloysius Rosario, who worked wonders
during his fairly long stay of some 13 years in Barkur. Next 7 – 8
years of Barkur rightly go down in the annals of history of our
parish as golden era for more than one reason.
It was during his time the CYM took birth in September 1976, it
was Fr. D’Souza’s initiative to construct open stage in the Church
compound, it was during this time in side the house of God,
sitting arrangements with additional pews and benches were made to
feel the comfort, keeping in mind all are equal in the eyes of
Lord. It was Rev. Fr. D’Souza who had developed beautiful coconut
plantation for the church, a well and a tank to provide
irrigation, further it was during his tenure. Moreover, youth were
attracted in large number to accept religious vocation, and most
importantly, it was just because of him, Barkur was fortunate to
have class assistant priests in Rev. Fr. Stanly Tauro, Rev. Fr.
Henry D’Souza and Rev. Fr. Patrick Rodrigues, all then
just ordained to find perfect first training, under him, as a
result all together made Barkur parish a model, modern, full of
activities and religious rededication. (Needless to mention over
here that all these Assistant Priests grown to be great priests
holding very important positions – Rev Fr. Henry D’Souza – Bishop
of Bellary Diocese and Rev Fr. Patrick Rodrigues – Director of
prestigious Fr. Muller’s Charitable Institutions, Kankanady,
Mangalore)
A
brief background - to the best of my memory, Fr. D’Souza, earlier
served in Thottam, Gangolli, and Kemmannu as Vicar:
On 13th May 1949, Rev
Fr Joseph D’Souza took over the reins of St Anne’s
Church; Thottam, in Kallianpur Varado. He contributed a lot to
the improvement of the church with the backing of kindhearted
parishioners. Under his initiative, a road from Vadabhandeshwara
to the Church was built. He served the parish for seven years and
was transferred to distant Gangolli Church in 1956, in the
Kundapur Varado.
Here in Gangolli, one of the oldest Churches in the Diocese, Fr.
D’Souza (1956-1962) renovated the church building, except the
artistic altar and façade, and also built a chapel at Trasi -
Maravanthe, which was served from Gangolli. Then it was the turn
of St. Theresa’s of Little Flower Church at Kemman, back in
Kallianpur Varado, where he continued his yeoman services. A
belfry with a German bell was constructed by Fr Joseph D’Souza
(1962-1972). In 1963, church was widened for accommodating more
people and a church hall was built in 1971. A large, evergreen
coconut garden, solely developed by Fr. D’Souza here was one of
the main sources of income to Church.
Even till this day, it was so many legends attributed to this holy
man inspires and astonish me a lot. In his life either he chosen
or Almighty’s providence that he served in the parishes which were
on the sea shore. In all these places, the fishermen Hindu or
Muslim community used to pay reverence to him as their own. It was
a real experience shared by natives that, this priest used to take
walk on the beech along with some altar-boys…. and was requested
to bless their boats / nets etc and first catch of the fishing
season donated to the church and they used to enjoy natures bounty
throughout the season. Many a times, the church main altar was
decorated by the flowers donated by other community members.
There are households, not only Catholics, who dug wells on the
spot suggested by priest, enjoying perennial water in all seasons,
even now. He had a natural cross mark at his back and used to
treat illness of small kind, with little known medicines, during
the time doctors and hospitals were a luxury, of course the
illness was cured mainly by priest’s miraculous hands and powerful
prayers. He never tolerated proud…. and treated haves and have
not’s with no discrimination. His was the blessings always sought
by faithful. There were lots many incidents, in the life of this
priest, wherein he rightly predicted the prospects. It was also a
fact; very few who hurt him, for no or silly reasons, never had
peace of mind thereafter! Thank God many realized their error in
private to the holy man and forgiven and forgotten.
Arrival to historical Barkur as the last destination as Vicar:
His stay at Barkur was more of smooth and contentment. Church
compound full of activities, with the presence of youth and
children, till late in the evenings....
‘Poor Brides Fund’,
a small saving every month, introduced by him was grown in near
Crores in the Syndicate Bank, was a proof of both his vision and
concern for the then economically poor families welfare. These
small savings every month helped a lot, at the time the time money
was scarce and families were large in size….
It was noteworthy, elderly priest very much fascinated to visit
his flock especially house warming after holy Easter. Nagermutt
had a special place in his heart. All the seven years of his stay
at Barkur, it was aged father blessed our houses, the other side
of the river, commonly called Pandeshwar was handled
simultaneously by respective Assistant priests of the time, on the
same day. It was a great feeling during teenage years to go or
walk with him! His birthday and feast of St. Joseph’s was well
remembered for boondi laddu.
There
were many more achievements to his credit…. but I feel, the man
was greater than his works, hence will not attempt to elaborate.
He was a powerful speaker and was well known for his sermons and
retreats with healing touch and counseling. One more great quality
we admired in him, while he was in Barkur, was his extra-ordinary
and impartial arbitrator skill to resolve many family, property
disputes, amicably. Even today, children of his time, now adults,
not afford to forget the special hymns taught by him ‘Kiten
thne, Kithen Thne, saang maka….’!!
He had a special place for youth of the parish and interestingly,
he tolerated, and on the contrary supported in all their
activities. He had a generous heart; I still preserve a
recommendation letter written by him, addressed to Vicar Vara of
Kallianpur, for my scholarship in the Milagres College! Yet in one
more occasion, when we were in the Church, following day, of the
Catechism day in February, 1979, where he recognized few of us for
good acting in a parable tableau and told ‘bhoren karn kelanren’,
for the envy of few others!! A cigar after the lunch, a tiny
bottle with snuff, a hand on his long beard, regular in his
evening walk, all through the seasons, a breviary in hand as he
was a man of prayers, moreover a great devotee of Mother Mary…yes
his image still fresh to our memories……….
Retirement 16th April, 1980.
As per the Diocesan regulations he retired from active life at the
age of 75. Still I feel he would have served in Barkur further for
few more years as he was enjoying good health and we in turn had
still better Assistant priests!
With a heavy heart Barkur bid adieus to their Vicar as he
headed towards Kinnigoli where his close relative, his nephew,
also a well known priest… Rev. Fr. Bernard D’Souza, (who also
served at Barkur as Assistant Priest in early 60’s during days of
Fr. A. Rosario) was Parish Priest and Principal of Pompei
College, who well taken care of him till he breathed his last.
Serene in death as Fr. D’Souza lived… and his life was one long
act of offering to Almighty, to bring people nearer to Him. Simple
and humble soul transparent like glass, reflected only goodness
and joy, we pray to intercede for us from heavens.
By the way, we can not change the past, but it our effort to keep
some beautiful, pleasant memories, like the one above, intact
through these few pages……
On behalf of Barkur-on-line Team & ICYM Barkur Ex Members
Association,
P. Archibald Furtado, - 20/01/2009. |
