R.I.P
We are sorry to inform you
about the passing away of Fr.
Chelston(Charlie Dias) (68/50) at
10.45p.m on 27 January 2015 at Gomtipur, Nursing Home in Ahmedabad. The funeral will be held on 29 January 2015 at
3.00p.m in Loyola Hall, Ahmedabad.
Fr.Charlie Dias was admitted in the Sterling
Hospital in the second week of November 2014 for the treatment of cancer in his
right arm. The doctors were trying their level best to save his right arm.
After a prolonged treatment at Sterling, on 16 January 2015 the doctors then in
consultation with the superiors concerned decided to go for the amputation of
the arm in order to save his life.
Fr.Charlie Dias accepted
the decision of the doctors and then he
had sent his personal message to his near and dear ones:
“It is hard to believe i
have finally after more than a month i have now been recommended to take the
harsh step of consent of amputation of my Right hand, this is in consultation
with the team of my Superiors, Socius and my family members having met with the
Panel of doctors including Dr Somesh and Dr Mandeep to save my life. They did
all the best to save my hand but at the end i lost the battle and had to
surrender my right arm.”
The right arm was
amputated on 16 January 2015. For a week he was in the ICU and then he was
transferred to a private room. He showed a lot of improvement. With the support
of Bro.Pravin Falcao, he even tired to walk in the room. Once again on 25 January, he had
to be put in the ICU since his vital organs were not cooperating to the
treatment that was given to him. Moreover he had to undergo dialysis. After the
dialysis he had to be put in ventilators.
Finally
his prolonged suffering came to an end on 27 January 2015 at 10.45 p.m and
he departed for the eternal home. May his soul rest in peace!
Socius-Gujarat
Dias
Chelston
Fr.Chelston
was the ninth child in a family of twelve. He joined the Apostolic School at
Loyola Hall and passed SSC from Loyola in 1964. Influenced by the Jesuit
Community at Loyola, he joined the novitiate the same year and took his vows in
1966. As a student of St.Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, he presented the college
in football, hockey and athletics. Though chosen to represent the Gujarat
University in these various disciplines, he had to step out ‘in virtue of holy
obedience’. In 1968, Fr.Charlie Dias was the fastest runner in Gujarat
University standing first in the 100 m. race.
After
an illustrious college performance, both in and off the field, he proceeded for
the novitiate at Mt Abu and then for philosophy to Pune. After completing his
regency and theology, he was ordained a priest in Bandra in 1979. After his
B.Ed. Charlie had four assignment at Rosary, Baroda in 1984, landed at Loyola
hall as Vice Principal, with additional charge of sports and scouts.
Charlie
has a motto that reads: A true Xavierite is a better person for others. His
great hobby is arranging leadership camps and ‘future leaders’ vie with each
other to find a place on these camps. The leadership camps surely went beyond
the ordinary and the mundane routine of the textbook learning and spewing what
was learnt in examinations. These camps have been, a unique contribution of
fr.Charlie to engage young people in understanding themselves, discovering
their inner potential, sensitizing them to society’s challenges and egging them
on to leadership. His faith formation camps for Catholics students have him
personally involved and devoted every bit of his time and energy. As a Vocation
promoter, he organized many camps and through these camps many have joined for
priesthood and for religious life.
All
through the years at St.Xavier’s Loyola Hall, Fr.Charlie has held many offices
and important ones such as Principal of St.Xavier’s Loyola Hall Primary
Section, Director of Leadership Training programmes, Director of Sports and
games, Director of alter servers, Chairman of Cubs and scouts, Director of the
Social service league and Minister of the Jesuit residence. Holding all these
portfolios, Fr.Charlie’s main focus has been the children. He instilled in his students the spirit of
sportsmanship. ‘Play the game to enjoy it. Winning and losing don’t matter.
Participation is the most important thing’.
Fr.Charlie’s
generosity knows no bounds reaching out to the poor and the needy far and wide.
He is very often addressed as Fr.Santaclaus.
Fr.Lancy
D’Cruz
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