To view the funeral service of Fr .Anton D'Souza, Kindly click the link given below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZsPM1mn5S0
Fr.
Anton D'Souza, SJ (1936-2012)
We come together this evening to bid
our farewell to Fr. Anton D'Souza, SJ, a man for others. Funeral Eucharist is
not a time for presenting a panegyric. However, it is a place and time to
present before all the good points of the departed and the lessons we can learn
from the way he led his life.
Today the Church celebrates the
Birthday of John the Baptist, the austere, fearless, at times harsh, precursor
of Jesus. Fr. Anton, in many ways reminded one of John the Baptist. Fr. Anton,
a man for others, realized the financial need of the family and so, soon after
his SSC, began working as a conscientious young man, employed by the Railways
in Ajmer. As we heard in the first reading, we are all chosen by God from our
mother's womb. At times, that vocation unfolds slowly, as it seems to have
happened in the case of Fr. Anton. Anton was well settled in his job when the
Lord called him to leave his job, his way of life and follow Him. And this is
precisely what he did. At the ripe age of 28 he joined the Society of Jesus to
dedicate his life in the service of God and His people in Gujarat. So, the
first lesson we learn from his life is, accepting one's responsibility as one
sees it, but at the same time, being constantly open to God's further
specification of His call or change of vocation.
After his ordination in 1972 at the
age of 36 he was appointed Assistant Principal in the newly founded St.
Xavier's School, Surat. His facility with accounts and his meticulous work made
his superiors to put him as assistant province treasurer. He accepted the job,
first working under Fr. Salas, then Fr More and then taking over the reins from
Fr More and being the Province Treasurer. After 18 long years in these
positions, he accepted to be the treasurer of Vidyajyoti, Delhi.
Here is a person who leaves his job
for the service of the Lord and all he is asked to do is carry on work very
similar to the one he was doing before joining. I'm sure this would have raised
a lot of questions in his mind. On the one hand there is the will of the
superiors and on the other, there is the deep desire to undertake pastoral
ministry. Here is a man who accepts the assigned work as God's will, does not
insist on change but at the same time he takes up pastoral work in his free
time. Come evening and Anton would be seen cycling to visit families. Being
concerned about families, he dedicated his spare time in Marriage Encounter.
Though he began with English speaking couples, later he extended his ministry
to Gujarati speaking couples as well. When he got a chance of Sabbatical, he
went to USA to familiarize himself with his chosen apostolate. He can be called
pioneer of Marriage Encounter in Gujarat.
When he realized that he had done
all that he could in and through Marriage Encounter, he moved on to Neo
Catechumen. By now, a popular priest, he went all out to deepen the faith of
people. A man of faith made sure that others also shared in his faith
experience.
To accept Superior's wish, do the
work conscientiously, but at the same time, not to neglect the call one feels
in one's bones is the second lesson that we learn from the life of Fr. Anton.
Anton was the treasurer. He handled
a lot of money. But his own life style was extremely simple. A few baggy pants
and bush shirts were perhaps his only possessions. He preached by his word and
example.
He was also in charge of Glen View.
Taking care of a villa in Mt Abu from A'bad was not an easy task. But Anton
would go periodically to Abu, often in the company of Bro Martin to undertake maintenance work
there, take inventory of things and make sure the villa was kept ready for
those who wished to go there.
Not many were aware of these various
works that Anton undertook. He seems to have put into practice what the Baptist
said, namely, "He must increase, I must decrease." Selfless, quiet
service is the third lesson of his life.
Where did he get the inspiration,
the stamina to undertake all these works? Those who stayed in Premal Jyoti with
him will remember Anton with his Breviary in the afternoon hours in the
corridors of Premal Jyoti. Mornings in the office with accounts, afternoons
with the Lord in Prayer, evenings with the people of God was the routine that
Anton accepted for his life. Hard work in the service of God is the fourth
lesson of his life.
But he was not a hardened, austere
man. He enjoyed a good meal and light
conversation. Presence at any night recreation in Premal Jyoti would show how
Anton enjoyed and made sure others enjoyed those recreations. Spending time
with the Community is the fifth lesson of his life.
Finally, at the age of sixty he was
appointed Assistant PP at Loyola Hall. For five years he did the unassuming
work of an assistant. A man of God, strict with himself, expected others to be
strict with themselves too. He was pained when he perceived laxity and like the
Baptist, lashed out against it. And in spite of those rare outbursts, on the
whole, he remained a quiet, calm priest. And that is why, people could make fun
of him about his outbursts.
In 2008, at the age of 72, his body
could not support his undying spirit and he had to be shifted to the Jeevan
Darshan Infirmary. It was sad to see this zealous priest confined to the
infirmary, unable to recognize or communicate with people. Enclosed in his own
world, he would at times start on a journey, always a replay of one of his
apostolic journeys.
Like the Baptist, he chose to play
the second fiddle. Like the Baptist, he served the Lord with all his might. Now
at last the Lord has called this good and faithful servant to be with Him.
Thank you good Fr. Anton (this was
his way of greeting others, calling them good).
May God grant him eternal rest. May
we imitate his virtues and one day join him in God's Kingdom, Amen. (Fr.Francis
Parmar)
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