Wednesday, July 19, 2017

BR. MATHEW  FERNANDES SJ
(1946 – 2017)


          


Br. Mathew Fernandes SJ (GUJ ), 70 years old /  49 years in the Society of Jesus, passed away on 18 July, 2017 at 05.45 PM in Our Lady of Pillar Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat.  He was suffering from cancer.

Funeral will be held on 19 July at 03.30 P.M. in Rosary Cathedral, Vadodara.


Br. Mathew Fernandes was born on 25 September, 1946, Radhanpur, Gujarat.  He entered the Society of Jesus on 30 July, 1967, Sadhana Bhavan, Mount Abu - Rajasthan. He pronounced his Final Vows on 20 November, 1982.

Biographical Sketch



Father:  FELIX   Fernandes
          

Mother:   EFFIE Fernandes



First Vows Date: 31/07/1969            Place:  Vinayalaya, Bombay



Responsibilities Held in the Society
Responsibility
Place
Year

TEACHING
ST XAVIER’S, SURAT
1973-79
TEACHING
ST XAVIER’S,  ANAND

1982-84
TEACHING
ROSARY, VADODARA

1985-96
TEACHING AND MINISTER
ST XAVIER’S SURAT

1996- 2002
BOARDING INCHARGE
BARDIPADA

2003-08
MINISTER
BTC, PUNE

2008-09
TEACHER, MINISTER
LOYOLA TECHINCAL, NADIAD

2009-2016
Praying for the Church and the Society of Jesus
Infirmary, Jeevan Darshan, Vadodara
2017


Br. Mathew Fernandes was preparing himself to celebrate his Golden Jubilee in the Society of Jesus on 30th July, 2017.  

On 06th July 2017, Rev. Fr. Arturo Sosa SJ, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, wrote to Br Mathew on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee:

Excerpts

"Dear Brother Fernandes,

"It is with sentiments of genuine joy that I congratulate you as you complete fifty golden years in
the Society of Jesus into which the Lord has called us in His boundless mercy. I join your Jesuit companions, family members and friends in singing the praise of the Lord as you recall the countless blessings you have received throughout your life in the Society of Jesus.

"Born in a family steeped in solid Christian faith, you were privileged to grow in an ambience
animated by your parents' shining example of truly selfless lives and imbibed from them some aspects of their deep commitment and dedication to God.

"You rightly see your call from the Lord to join the Society in the light of a mystery, but drawn and guided by the exemplary lives of Jesuits both priests and brothers. Endowed with sterling qualities of head and heart, you exerted yourself to bring the best out of you in order to benefit those whom you were called to serve....

"A quick look at your biodata reveals the major areas around which your life and ministry in the
Society moved. By all accounts, you honed your expertise as an excellent teacher in the schools and a host of strategies, skills and sleight of hand with cards you had developed, helped you to be innovative in securing and retaining the attention of your young pupils....

"I understand that a special course you had done in Catering and Hotel Management stood you in
good stead in experimenting with great ease and creativity to offer some much-appreciated delicacies at the table, particularly on festive occasions. You took meticulous care to ensure that the house under your baton as Minister remained tidy and organized....you were impeccably respectful and courteous in your dealings with your Jesuit companions and lay collaborators....  

"I thank you, dear Brother Mathew, for all you have been and for all the good you have
accomplished with the unfailing grace and love of the Lord who has accompanied you through this half a century of life and service in the Society. With renewed greetings, I commend the Society and myself to your prayers.


Yours sincerely in Christ,

Arturo Sosa SJ
Superior General of the Society of Jesus"