March 26 marks the celebration of the sacerdotal ordination of jubilarian Fr Peregrino da Silva, who hails from Benaulim and was born on November 17, 1937.
1966 marked the beginning of these 50 years. The technological, economical, political and social world then was totally different from what it is today. Even the religious scenario at that time had its own challenges as it was soon after Vatican II, when even the institution of priesthood was in a rocking boat, with many, especially in Europe, leaving priesthood. And yet, the only thing that has remained constant all these years is the faithfulness of God, manifested in the life of Fr Perry, as he is fondly called.
Fr Perry’s parents came down from Dehradun during the partition of India and he had the seed of vocation to the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales (MSFS) congregation sowed while in Margao, where he grew in wisdom and understanding with the Fransalians.
After completing his high school and strongly influenced by the life of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales, Fr Perry was motivated to join the minor seminary in Bastora and later completed secular studies at SFS College, Nagpur. Sandwiched between his secular and seminary studies, he made his first profession in Visakhapatnam in 1960. After completing his philosophical studies at JDV Pune, Fr Perry was sent to Fribourg, Switzerland, by late Fr Moget, where he was ordained a priest on March 26, 1966.
His passion for people and the ministry entrusted to him has been the hallmark of his priesthood and his religious life. Fr Perry has been engaged in various ministries. Soon after his ordination, he was appointed at St John’s, Nagpur, as an in-charge of boarders and a teacher in the school. In a year, he moved to St Thomas School, Aldona, where he taught French and was in-charge of the Apostolic School.
However, it looks like this was not his cup of tea as after that, he spent over 20 years in the preaching and formation ministry after completing a course in spirituality in France. The Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod in Amravati were fortunate to have a young, dynamic and affable resident MSFS for six years as their spiritual director at a time when novitiate and postulancy were in Amravati. Speaking to him about this glorious period, he says this was the time he spent deepening his spirituality. He was in demand for preaching retreats, counselling, spiritual direction and recollections.
Speaking about his satisfaction as a priest in these last 50 years, Fr Perry’s face glows as he talks about the time, energy, and finance invested in social projects, like the home for differently-abled children, projects in Dahanu for tribals, the Renewal Centre, the school at Nalasopara, the home for street children at Koperkharine and several other organizations catering to the needy and distressed in Maharashtra. He added that times had not been easy, but looking back, he is satisfied that he tried to live up to his ordination motto “Ordained to Serve”.
Fr Perry’s nine-year stint as rector of the Fransalian Seminary is remembered for his words “freedom coupled with responsibility”.
Today, the Fransalian Seminary has so many collaborators or “friends of Fransalians” thanks to Fr Perry, who had injected new life in this group of lay people who financially support the seminarians on their journey to priesthood.
A close friend and admirer of Fr Perry, Bishop Valerian D’Souza, emeritus Bishop of Pune, who spends some time each year with Fr Perry in Zurich says that Fr Perry, though not fluent in German, mesmerizes people and gets them to assist him in his mission.
Though now retired from active ministry, Fr Perry is very active in the ministry of preaching and helping out in parishes in Zurich, which helps him support a number of small projects of the province. He remains active in and out of season and lives a simple, yet fulfilling life.
