Joseph Menezes: At the age of 106 this grand old ‘young’ man manifests contentment and peace

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 01 Apr 2015: In the fast paced modern world when people consider themselves lucky to live beyond 70 years and consider each passing year as the ‘bonus’  from the Almighty God and many a times have to take the support of medicines and regular hospitalization, meeting  a person who is 106 years old and still in good physical and mental health manifesting contentment and peace is something just unimaginable.

 

 

I had an opportunity of meeting this grand-old ‘young’ man-Joseph Menezes of Magandadi, Balkunje who happens to be a relative of Mrs. Rita D’Sa, wife of William D’Sa (Willie Master) of Moodubelle. Few days back when I met Willie Master, he  asked me whether I was interested in meeting 106 years old Joseph Menezes and write a profile on him which could be published in Bellevision.com. I immediately grabbed this opportunity and agreed to his suggestion. Mrs. Rita D’Sa and Willie Master  were kind enough to accompany me in their vehicle along with Mark Lobo who had come on holidays from Dubia to meet and interact with Joseph Menezes.

 

 

On hearing the sound of the vehicle, Joseph Menezes who was taking rest in his bed  room moved into the sitting room with the help of his daughter, Sr. Blandine (Stella) of Bethany Congregation who has  retired from teaching profession and presently gives service in the  rovidence Convent Balkunje so that she can be nearer to her aged father.

 

Entering the sitting room, I was amazed to see Joseph Menezes in bright red coloured T shirt seated on the chair and smiling. I could not believe that the person seated in front of me is nearing 107 years within two months. He looked like a person whose age could be placed at 80 or 85. But in fact Joseph Menezes is over 106 years of age based on his Baptismal record from Kinnigoli church where he was baptized. According to this record, showed to me by Sr. Blandine, the date of birth of Joseph Menezes is mentioned as 28 June 1909.

 

Joseph is fifth among eight children, three sons and five daughters of late Dieg Alex Menezes and Antonia Pinto. He studied up to fifth standard at St. Paul’s Primary School at Balkunje. Though he had a desire to join priesthood, his father did not approve of his choice. Hence, Joseph had to be satisfied with his primary education and the life that lay ahead.

 

When asked about his post primary school days, Joseph said that he was sent to Mumbai for employment by his father. At that time he travelled to Mumbai by steamer from Malpe port and  ticket charge of the journey  from Malpe to Mumbai was just Rs.4. On reaching Mumbai he stayed at the residence of one of his relatives. However, within three months he grew home sick and could not get adjusted to the city life and returned home.

 

 

Having returned home, Joseph began helping his father and brothers in agricultural activities. Besides growing three crops, Joseph also cultivated sugar cane and pulses during appropriate seasons which became the main source of income for the family.

 

Joseph was growing up as a hardworking, sincere, honest and handsome young man. At the age of 27 Joseph got married to Lucy Cutinho from the same village on 26 May 1927.

 

Joseph and Lucy were blessed with five children among whom two did not survive infancy whereas three children survived-Denis, Stella and Mark.

 

The eldest son Denis had a great love for learning and as such after completing primary education at St. Paul’s Primary School, Balkunje continued higher primary and high school education in Pompeii High School, Aikala. Right from his childhood, Denis had a dream and desire to join priesthood and his father was quite happy that the dream which he had would be realized by his son. Denis underwent seminary training  in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu-Mangalore and joined Bellary Diocese for missionary activities. He was ordained priest in 1966 and he will be completing 50 years of priestly life in 2016.

 

When Stella started attending school, St. Paul’s Primary School had developed into higher primary school.  Stella was fortunate of having education in that institution up to seventh standard. Thereafter, she proceeded to Little Flower High School, Kinnigoli where she completed SSLC. She was also attracted towards religious life and  joined Bethany Congregation in 1964. She chose a new name during her profession and came to be known as Sr. Blandine. She served in Bhatinda, Punjab for some time and was later transferred back to Mangalore where she served as a teacher and retired in 2002. Presently, Sr. Blandine is serving in the Providence Convent, Balkunje to be closer to her aged father.

 

The youngest son of Joseph, Mark also wanted to follow the path of his elder siblings and in fact joined St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu. However, serious ailment forced him to withdraw from the seminary. He continued his education and acquired post graduate degree in English literature and became a lecturer of English in St. Aloysius College, Mangalore.  In 1979, Mark married Leena D’Souza, B.Sc, B.Ed. who had been serving as a teacher in Rosa Mystica High School, Gurpur. They have two daughters-Jyotsna and Roshni.  However, when everything seemed to be going on well in the best interest of the family and Joseph was very happy with his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters, tragedy struck the family. Mark became seriously ill and was admitted to Fr. Muller’s Hospital where he passed away  at the young age of 40 years on Good Friday of the year 1988.

 

 

The passing away of Mark practically shattered Joseph. According to Sr. Blandine, when Joseph came to know at around 9 o’clock in the night that Mark was serious in the hospital,  he immediately made up his mind to proceed to Mangalore, walked all the way to Mulki, managed to get a passing vehicle  and reached the hospital at 1 o’clock in the mid night. Joseph had great love for his children and he could not bear the suffering and eventually passing away of his beloved youngest son when he was at the height of his career and children were too small.

 

With the blessing of their grandfather-Joseph and hard work of mother Leena, both Jyotsna and Roshni got good education and both acquired engineering degrees and have been married and settled down in Bangalore.

 

As he gradually recovered from the loss of his son, Joseph’s wife, Lucy who had been ailing for many years also passed away in 1991 at the age of 79 years.

 

Having lost his youngest son and wife within a period of three years and two children being in the religious service, Joseph had to manage his life all  alone. However, he never gave up his hope and determination to live a contented and peaceful life. He carried on with his life and continued his agricultural activities along with service in the church and village.

 

According to Sr. Blandine, Joseph had good voice and was in the forefront in singing hymns in the church. He also involved himself in various other church related activities.  Till the age of 99, Joseph used to walk all the way to the church to attend Sunday Mass and other religious services. He also used to carry on his routine work of watering coconut trees and other plants and also carry on sundry work in order to keep himself fit and busy.

 

 

In 2009, the centinary birthday of Joseph Menezes was celebrated with gradeur by his family, relatives, villagers and well-wishers. Among the distinguished guests were three Bishops-Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza of Mangalore, Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza of Bellary and Most Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda of Gulbarga. It was a great honour for a person to complete hundred years which very few achieve that too in sound health as Joseph has had.

 

When asked about the secret of his long, healthy contented and peaceful life, Joseph pointed up raising his hands and said that it has been  the gift of the Almighty God. Though Joseph could not answer himself clearly, Sr. Blandine said that her father has been a peace loving person. He did not have any enemies. He never nurtured anger or grudge, hatred or selfishness, greed or worries. Though he cultivated the land belonging to his father or siblings, he willingly returned the land to them when he no longer required them for cultivation and was content to live in a modest house built on a small plot of land.

 

Sr. Blandine further said that her father not only did not quarrel or fight with others and valued peaceful life, he used to be uneasy when others quarrelled and fought on petty issues. He would always try to bring the two warring parties to the negotiating table and help in resolving the issues amicably. Joseph was the much sought after person in the village to bring about settlement of contentious issues.

 

 

Being a simple person with noble ideals and positive energy, Joseph lives his life on his own terms. Though his mobility has been curtailed due to advancing age, he is not bed-ridden. With a little support he would come to the sitting room and meet the people who come to meet and speak to him. He reads Kannada newspapers and is quite aware of the happenings in various fields including politics.

 

After gathering relevant information and pleasant interaction, we took leave from Joseph Menezes and his daughter Sr. Blandine. With a broad smile Joseph thanked us for visiting him. However, I expressed my gratitude to him for having given an opportunity to interact with him and his daughter and considered myself fortunate  for having had an opportunity to meet a grand old ‘young’ man of 106 years who manifests contentment and peace who will be entering 107th year  on 28 June 2015.