Molly Fernandes
As the world is reeling under the deadly Covid-19, I am reminded on the 45th Death Anniversary of Rev. Fr Faustino De Souza, Founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth, Sancoale, Goa, of such serious diseases that once gripped the State of Goa and people ran away. But, today all doors closed one cannot escape anywhere! The heroic work done by the doctors and nurses and others involved is indeed unimaginable! One’s faith is at test in adversities, in hardships and afflictions. And in these situations, the words: ‘Fear not, for I am with you’ communicates hope and trust. This same hope and trust engulfed Fr Faustino that increased his faith and trust on Divine Providence. Putting a hand at the yoke is not easy and not just mere faith but total surrender like Abraham.
The greatest sign of love is to give one’s life for others. Fr Faustino willingly gave up everything and even risked his own life as he tried to walk in the ways of Jesus. St Paul says: whether we live or whether we die we belong to the Lord. When in 1918, the terrible epidemic of influenza, the viral fever raged Goa and thousands of people died, just before his ordination, Deacon Faustino, grabbed this opportunity of self-sacrifice and offered his services in Anjuna. Yes, courageous and generous as he was, he stood his ground. He put himself at the service of the sick administering to their physical and spiritual needs to the point of exhaustion and even buried the dead.
The effect was so dangerous that even doctors and few priests died with viral infection. The number of deaths rose so much that the authorities resorted to mass burials. Due to fear of contracting the disease, his mother tried to convince him not to go out, but no, nothing would deter him. One day, when his mother saw him dressed in his usual black cassock she stood at the door with outstretched arms and stopped from going. However, Faustino pleaded: “I am priest of God. I am not only your son, Mamma, please let me go.”
Another grave incident while at Sancoale as a Parish Priest, the whole village of Sancoale was attacked by the fatal disease of Small Pox. The healthy members of the families abandoned the victims and ran away from their homes. There was no one to take care of the sick or to bury the dead. The compassionate Fr Faustino saw Jesus forsaken on the cross! In this dangerous and pathetic situation, being the Pastor, he recommended the Holy Family Sisters to take care of the victims. He himself took the lead accompanied by the sisters. Urged by the love of Christ, the Sisters took risk and nursed the patients with love, seeing the suffering face of Jesus in each patient by bathing, washing clothes, preparing food, cleaning their houses and surroundings. Many people survived though some died; they saw the hand of God worked through them.
Fr Faustino would give tablets from the then famous De Chane Pharmaceuticals and tell them: “It is the Lord that heals, Go and pray to Our Lady of Health. She is the Mother of Health.”
