Moodubelle: Silver Priesthood of Fr. George Fernandes S.J. celebrated

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 28 April 2011: The Silver Jubilee of the priesthood of Fr. George Fernandes S.J. was celebrated on Thursday, April 28, 2011 with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass at St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle at 10.30 am followed by a felicitation function in the parish hall at 12 noon. A large number of family members, relatives, friends and well wishers of Fr. George participated in both the Thanksgiving Mass and the felicitation function.

 

The solemn Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass was concelebrated by 12 priests, Fr. George being the chief celebrant. Among these, four were the relatives of Fr. George: Fr. Vijay Bhat, presently the Director of Medical College Project in Jamshedpur run by Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), Fr. Vijay Kamath S.J., presently in the Manresa House, Ranchi, Fr. Paul Fernandes S.J., presently Professor in Dnyan Deep Vidyapeeth, Pune and Fr. Rosario Fernandes, parish priest of Kuppepadav in Mangalore Diocese. Other priests included, Fr. Joe Mathais S.J. Director of National Vocation Service run by CBCI, Fr. Joe D’Mello, parish priest from Goregaon, Mumbai, Fr. Denis Gonslaves, parish priest from Girgaum, Mumbai, Fr. Charles Lewis, parish priest from Pamboor, Fr. Sunil D’Souza, parish priest from Tannirbhavi, Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish priest of Belle and Fr. Lancy Saldanha, assistant parish priest of Belle. 

 

Fr. Vijay Bhat, Fr. Paul Fernandes S.J., Fr. George Fernandes S.J., Fr. Vijay Kamath S.J., Fr. Rosario Fernandes 

God Parents of Fr. George: Alice and Marian Lobo

 

The felicitation function in the parish hall that began at 12 noon was compeered in a lively manner interspersed with jokes by Fr. Sunil D’Souza. The programme began with a welcome dance presented by Sara, Reshal and Carol. Fr. George Fernandes along with Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Alice Lobo, the eldest sister of Fr. George and Marian, her husband who are also his God parents were on the dais. In a formal welcome address, Gregory Fernandes, nephew of Fr. George who is also the Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the Axis Bank in Mangalore welcomed all the guest priests, family members, relatives, friends, well-wishers and ward members.

 

Fr. George formally inaugurated the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of his priesthood by formally cutting the cake. While raising the toast to Fr. George on this occasion, Fr. Rosario Fernandes, one of the nephews of Fr. George introduced the family and narrated the mission work of Fr. George in the Jamshedpur Jesuit Province and on behalf of all the relatives and those who were present wished him well.

 

The parish choir trained by Br. Mahesh D’Souza sang a felicitation song in honour of Fr. George. Thereafter, another nephew of Fr. George, Fr. Paul Fernandes in his address highlighted the contribution of Fr. George in the field of education in various mission centres in Jamshedpur province especially in Dhanabad mining region. All the family members jointly honoured Fr. George by offering him a floral garland.

 

Fr. Joswey Fernandes, in his felicitation message said that the Belle Parish is proud of the missionary work that is being done by Fr. George in North India and congratulated him on behalf of the entire parish community on completing twenty-five years of priesthood.

 

In his reply to the felicitation function that was organised in his honour, Fr. George Fernandes S.J. thanked his late parents and brothers and sisters for encouraging and nurturing the vocation for priesthood which he had felt right from his childhood. He remembered his teachers, especially Boniface Barboza (Benny Master) and William D’Sa (Willie Master) who were present at this occasion and also Fr. Sylvester Vaz and Fr. V.G.F. Rego for guiding him in choosing the religious order and the province for his missionary work. He also thanked Fr. Joswey Fernandes, his sister-Stella Teacher, his cousin-Frederick D’Souza, Br. Mahesh D’Souza and others who had worked hard to organise the Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass and the felicitation function. At the end of the programme, Stella teacher formally proposed the vote of thanks. Fr. Paul Sequeira recited the grace before the meal.

 

Profile of Fr. George Fernandes S.J.:

 

Fr. George Fernandes S.J.

Fr. George Fernandes was born on October 20, 1955 at Pernankila as the last child of eight children, five sons and three daughters of late Diego and Dulcin Fernandes. Among his sisters, Ms. Stella Fernandes had served in the Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle for 34 years and had been acknowledged as one of the finest teachers in the school.

 

Late Dulcin Fernandes

George had his education right from the first to the tenth standard in Moodubelle completing SSLC from St. Lawrence High School in 1971. As he was studying in the high school, George had developed an yearning to join priesthood and asked for advice from the then headmaster of the high school and parish priest, late Fr. V.G. F. Rego who suggested that he could join the Jesuit Order and serve as a missionary the Jamshedpur Province. Besides, one of the cousin of George, Fr. Vijaya Kamath of Pernal parish was already serving as a missionary in the adjacent Jesuit Province of Ranchi.

 

Having made up his mind to follow the divine calling and heeding the advice of Fr. Rego, George volunteered to join the Jesuit Province of Jamshedpur and continued his Pre-University Course in St. Aloysius College for two years staying in the Loyola Hostel. During two years of the Pre-University Course in science, besides studies, George was quite active in NCC (Naval Wing) and also in sports, Basketball being his favourite game.

 

Having completed the PUC in 1973, Br. George proceeded to the Newman Hall, Ahmadabad for priestly training and underwent two years of the novitiate. Thereafter, he proceeded to Sitagarh in Hazaribagh in Bihar for seven months of Juniorate. For philosophy he went to the De Nobile College, Poona and did theological studies, one year in Ranchi and two and a half years in Vidyajyothi, Delhi.

 

Following the completion of the studies and training, Br. George was ordained a priest along with Br. Boniface D’Souza of Mudarangadi, in the Mudarangadi Church on April 24, 1986 by Archbishop Alphonse Mathias.

 

On Ordination Day: April 24, 1986

Soon after the ordination, Fr. George Fernandes was appointed as the Coordinator of the Youth Organization for three years. Meanwhile, he also completed three years course in Law (1987-1990). For Tertianship, Fr. George was sent to Shambaganur in Kodaikanal for six months.

 

In 1991, Fr. George was appointed as the principal of St. Xavier’s High School at Chaibasa in Bihar where he served for eleven years. One of the important achievements of Fr. George as the principal of St. Xavier’s High School was the transformation of the school from purely boy’s school into the co-educational institution as girls students were also admitted to this school since 2000.

 

Family Picture from Album

Fr. George and his elder sister-Stella Teacher

Since 2002, Fr. George Fernandes is serving in Dhanabad as the Director of the De Nobile Branch Schools. Meanwhile, from 2007 to 2009 he also served as the principal of the Main De Nobile High School. In 2009, Fr. George started as new school with just 55 students which has grown in two years having presently 425 students. The De Nobile cluster of eight schools have over 16,000 students.