A Man for All Times and Seasons

Innocent was born on April Fool’s day in 1943 and began his early education at The Catholic Parochial Primary School and then at the Dr, Ribeiro Goan High School. On completion of his studies in 1959 he went to India to study BSC Engineering at St. Josephs College, Bangalore, After 3 years of his BSC course the Lord interrupted his career when he was called to join the Society of Jesus on 15.7.63. After further studies and completing his Anthropology and Theology (MA) at Karnataka University he was ordained a priest in Goa on 26th April 1975.

In June 1975 he was appointed Vice Principal at the Loyola High School in Margao, Goa and later to the Pre-Noviciate at Mirimar, Goa in June 1977 where he worked with the youth apostolates. His last appointment was as Minister of the Papal Seminary in Poona from 1982-84, as well as the Province Coordinator for the Goa-Poona Province.

Perhaps what was most noticeable about Innocent was the intensity with which he went about doing any and everything in life. Whether he was studying, praying, singing or playing football he was fully immersed in the activity. Innocent was not a Jesuit of half-measures, he brought alive to his fellow Jesuits the meaning of the words ‘Age quod agis’ (whatever you are doing, do it to the best of your ability).

He was also gifted with a great singing voice and an excellent sense of rhythm. It was always a treat to see him sing, his facial expressions were unique when fully involved with the song .It was as if the feelings of his heart were plainly written on his face. Innocent entertained others at many a Jesuit get- together and his performances were always memorable.

Another noteworthy trait of his was his generosity. No matter how many tasks he had pending, if someone asked him for a favour he would always find time for the extra work. He put himself at the service of others to the point of exhaustion. He always on the move and seemed to have huge reservoirs of energy. One last characteristic of Innocent was his smile. In spite of the seriousness with which he went about his daily tasks he found time to be happy and when his broad smile lit up his face, it lit up many other faces at the same time.

Innocent’s apostolate in the Society appears to have been centred around the youth. He had a special way of dealing with them. He was very understanding of their problems, their ways and ideas. He never hesitated to speak to them about the ways and ideas of Christ. His manner of speaking coupled with his facial expressions and eloquent eyes had such a genuine ring, that the college students hardly ever failed to be suitably impressed and were often captivated by him. It was obvious that in Fr. Innocent they had come into contact with somebody who had developed a close relationship with Christ and was deeply committed to His cause.

In 1984 he was sent on a two year sabbatical to Chicago for further studies. It was so fortunate that on route to the US he escorted Mum and Dad to the UK for what was to be his last family reunion in the summer of 1984. While on holiday in Edmonton after his first year in Chicago, Innocent was tragically killed in a car accident along with two little girls, daughters of a family he was visiting. It is ironic indeed that one who had many friends, Jesuits and non-Jesuits in Goa and Poona should have to be laid to rest thousands of miles away in Edmonton, Canada where only a handful of people knew him. How much more deeply must his aged parents in Goa have been distressed to be unable to accompany their dear son on his last journey to the cemetery.

That was Innocent ‘a man for all times and seasons’, a man who would have undoubtedly achieved much in Christ’s vineyard in years to come , but who was plucked away almost pre-maturely exactly ten years and three months to the day after his ordination.

May his soul rest in peace.

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