One in a million: Fr. Faustino De Souza

You are my lungs”, “If not for you, I would not be able to run the diocese” was what the then Bishop of Belgaum said to the Religious working in His Diocese. Similar sentiments ran through the spine of One of the Goan priest when the Religious Orders and Congregations had been banned or suppressed first in Portugal and a year later, in its colonies. He is none other than a history changer who is now a Quasquicentenniar – Fr. Faustino De Souza, the Founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth, Sancoale, Goa.

 Born on 24th November 1893, the heavens rejoiced at his birth, for this child designed by the Almighty would be the change and bring in change in the life of people and the Church in Goa. The Church needed more hands to collaborate in the upheaval task of catering to the spiritual welfare of families which also needed increase in the rate of literacy. This man of God was fazed seeing the plight and overwhelmed by the love of God he sought ways and means to cater to this absurdity. Ps 25: 4-5, “Show me your ways Lord and teach me your Paths” reverberated in his mind and heart. I understand this today while I reflect on his life. The realisation of the Presence of God in His life and wherever he went motivated him to go ahead in his mission. For God’s love is poured out into the hearts of men and women, who are incapable on their own self-giving love unless they receive it from on high, from its divine source.Yes, Goodness always tends to spread. “Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, and any person who has experienced this profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others, needs of the Church. As it expands, goodness takes root and develops. If we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good” cf # 9, Evangelii Gaudium. Something similar happened to Faustino De Souza and impelled by love of Christ, he never looked back.

 Fr. Faustino a great yet humble and simple personality, the one who changed the face of then Goan villages. He was the one instrumental in bringing back the Religious Orders. Almost a century earlier, 1834, the religious orders and congregations had been banned or suppressed first in Portugal and a year later, in its colonies. That could be called the Dark Age in the life of the Church in Goa. The exodus from Goa had lasted too long. Fr. Faustino strongly felt the need for Religious Institutes to care for orphans and the destitute, the aged and socially marginalized. The Church in Portugal (a century later) and its colonies could breathe more freely with the rise of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar as Prime Minister and with Estado Novo. Fr. Faustino perceived the winds of change and took advantage of the situation and mobilized the ecclesiastical circles for the re-establishment of Religious Institutes. And, the first Religious Congregation of men ‘The Franciscan Missionary Brothers’ at Duler was established in Goa after a century because of a far-sightedness of this great yet meek soul. 50 years later, Bro. Columban, CMSF, the then Superior General of the Franciscan Brothers tracing the origins of St. Anthony’s Institute wrote: when anti-religious laws were still in force in Goa, it was a courageous priest Fr. Faustino that set a landmark by starting St. Anthony’s Orphanage..” “Through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Faustino, the Chaplain of Duler, the necessary permission was obtained from the authorities”, acknowledged Bro. Martin CMSF.

 Founders of religious Institutes are all inspired by the Holy Spirit and the foundation of a new religious family is the movement of the Holy Spirit, not human but Divine. It is God who chooses the human as an instrument to provide new light for the good of His Church, for his Greater glory. And for Fr. Faustino it was no doubt the will of God to be a Founder of the congregation God had called to be one. A man of prayer that he was as he had made a habit of rising early so that he could get enough time to pray before he started his daily pastoral activities. He maintained and strengthened his interior life with continuous and intensive prayer.

Having gone through the whole process the long wait of having a Congregation of its own Diocese being a Founder was realised by sending the desiring girls for their formation at Mangalore on 9th March 1933 (a historical day) and who on completion of their formation pronounced their first vows on 16th June 1935 at Sancoale.

With deep thankfulness, the Sisters of the Congregation of Holy Family of Nazareth, Sancoale Goa, bear in mind our Beloved Founder Fr. Faustino De Souza, who emulated His Master and tried to walk in His footsteps. Who fulfilled the words from Isaiah that says: the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, He has sent me to bring Good News to the poor; to proclaim liberty to the captives; to heal the broken hearted; to set the oppressed free… yes, he was sent by God with a mission and committed was he to his mission simultaneously setting those whom he guided (SFN’s) with the fire of the love of Christ!

At the moment his daughters the Holy Family Sisters hark back with gratefulness as they celebrate the 125th Quasquicentennial anniversary of his birth. His daughters the SFN’s try to carry on his legacy and his Charism: ‘To make the Master known to the needy and the marginalised’. Long live His Legacy!!!