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Obituaries
Desiderio pinto, SJ
(PUN) 1956 - 2012
“First class!” and “No problem!”
– Fr. Desiderio Pinto (aged 56) would
exclaim when asked about how things
were. Even whilst bearing the immense
pain of chemotherapy to fight AML (acute
myeloid leukemia), ‘Desi’ - as he was
affectionately called - would say that
there’s “no problem!” and that his health
is “first class!” But, on hearing that his
condition had suddenly deteriorated, when
the Rector of Vidyajyoti College, Fr Joe
Sebastian, inquired about his health a few
days ago and said that he’d be coming
to see him, Desi said, “Father, when you
come here I might be gone.” It’s hard to
believe that Desi has passed on to that
“new heaven and new earth” where “every
tear will be wiped away” (Rev 21:4) with
the unending joy of being in God’s loving
presence.
Fr Desiderio Pinto was born on 27
April 1956 in Tanzania, East Africa. He
joined the Pune Province of the Society of
Jesus on 24 June 1974. He was ordained
priest on 6 April 1986. Desi was blessed
with a phenomenal memory and was
a brilliant student-and-teacher. He was
interested in interfaith dialogue and was
inspired by his mentor, Fr Christian Troll,
to specialize in Islamic studies. The fruit
of his labour was a much-appreciated
thesis. Desi joined the Vidyajyoti College
of Theology as a full-time lecturer in 1997.
Another post which Desi took up in 2006
was that of Librarian of Vidyajyoti. Swiftly
and silently he made sure that the library
was competently equipped.
Three of his talents are unforgettable:
(a) Desi could lecture for hours on Islam,
and in particular, Sufism, without bringing
any notes to class. He would have his
students spellbound with his anecdotes
or in splits of laughter with his quick wit;
(b) Desi was a ‘self-made’ mechanic. He
could fix anything from time-pieces to
computer hard-disks with a “no problem!”
assurance; (c) Desi never ever spoke
ill of anyone. He saw the very best in
everyone and would judge every student,
every staff-colleague and every coworker
as ‘first class!”All of us will remember this
‘first class’ Jesuit.
- Francis Gonsalves, SJ
Joseph V. D’Souza, SJ
(GOA) 1931 - 2012
We were shocked
by the news that Fr Joe
Vincent (popularly known
as Joe V.) had expired.
A few days earlier many
of us had visited him
at the GMC Hospital,
Bambolim, Goa, where he
was recovering from lung
congestion. On being discharged, Fr Joe V
felt he could pay a quick visit to his parish
in Chiplun, where some construction work
was going on and where the parishioners
had had no Mass for two consecutive
Sundays. He left Goa early morning in
his car driven by a helper. He made it
up to Kasal where he got down from the
car to stretch out his legs and collapsed,
apparently due to lung failure.
Born in Pune on 10 March 1931,
Joe V did his high school and college
there before joining the Society in 1954
and then after the regular formation was
ordained priest at St Vincent’s Pune in
1964. His curriculum vitae as priest may
be divided into three phases: formative,
academic and pastoral and he went
through each of them “with flying colours”.
During the formative phase, he obtained
first MSc and then Doctorate in Organic
Chemistry. His teaching and research
phase lasted 20 years, from 1970 to 1990,
first at St Xavier’s College itself and then
at Andhra Loyola College (Vijayawada),
at IIT, Madras, and finally at Ahmednagar
College, where he was also warden of
the hostels. Fr Peter Raj, Socius of the
POSA, his companion at ALC, recalls:
“Joe V was very popular with students who
regarded him as an affable, friendly and
accessible person... He was passionately
committed to taking the fruits of Science
and Technology to the rural masses.”
On reaching the age of retirement
in 1990, and on account of his asthmatic
problems, Joe V opted for pastoral work
in the coastal region of Maharashtra and
specifically at Harnai. We have to thank
Joe V for the fruitful years he served in
the ministry of higher education, and
more so for the fruitful pastoral work he
undertook after having retired from the
field of education. His pioneering work in
the Ratnagiri District will now serve as the
base for the future ministry in that area.
- Gregory Naik, SJ
Swami Shantananda, SJ
(GOA) 1949 - 2012
S w a m i
Shantananda was a
companion to some of
us that gathered to bid
him farewell. He was a
man in a hurry. It is rare
for a Jesuit to be ordained
in 9 years. He did it. And
now he is in a hurry to get
back to God at the age of 63. To his Jesuit
brothers and family he thus becomes our
intercessor in heaven.
He was in a hurry to be a Swami.
A student of the Deshnur school, he
was attracted by the life of the Swamis.
He joined the Society of Jesus in 1969
to become a Swami. As a young Jesuit
he was single-mindedly devoted to
the apostolic activities in Torangatti.
At his Ordination in the Indian style
ceremony at Deshnur, he legally changed
his name from Shantappa to Swami
Shantananda.
Swami Shantananda - a man of
deep faith. For 29 years he carried
on his priestly mission in Torangatti,
Saundatti, Madlur, and Deshnur. Swami
Shantananda embraced the Kannada
mission with the whole of his being. He
was keen as a Jesuit to ever serve in love
and wanted to make his Lord known to the
Lingayat community.
He was always aware that God had
given him a thorn in his flesh. His cardiac
condition and general poor health made
him trust the grace of God ever more. In
his weakness he was aware of God at
work in his life. In his poor health, God
was his strength exceedingly great.
A year ago Swami Shantananda
went through a difficult time with his
health. Doctors at the KLE Hospital had
given him a few days to live due to his
kidney failure.
But the loving care of his community
at St Paul’s and the Sisters at Nirmal
Nagar Hospital, gave Swami a new lease
of life.
At Nirmal Nagar Hospital he enjoyed
a meaningful bonding with God in prayer.
Miraculously he did not need any more
dialysis. He who was given a few days
only, lived for more than a year with the
strength of God alone.
- Rosario Rocha, SJ
JIVAN: News and Views of Jesuits in India NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 28