Monsg. Filipe Neri Mendonca popularly known as Fr. Mendonca was the 3rd principal of the fist English High School of Goa, St. Joseph’s High School, Arpora. About 35 years he worked as principal of that school. He was the great educationist of Goa having obtained first class in MA degree in Latin and acquiring second rank. He died in August 1966 and interred at Arpora/Nagoa. During Portuguese time he enjoyed highest respect from the Portuguese government for promoting English education in Goa. During the critical time of the relationship between Indian government and Portuguese government in mid fifties, he acted as a peacemaker between the two governments with respect to educational matters concerning Goan students appearing for SSC thru Poona Board. Regarding English education in Goa, the Portuguese Governador of Goa used to consult him on important decisions on education. Many times he calmed down the Portuguese authority in favour of Goans in the matter of education and his voice had great respect before the Portuguese authority.
Immediately after the ouster of Portuguese from Goa, some Goan “goondas” from that locality came with Guns and Revolvers to kill Fr. Mendonca for being Portuguese government’s “chamcha” but a few minutes before the final operation his personal driver sensed something serious would happen and immediately took him away from Arpora school to Bastora Nun’s School without anybody’s notice and thus the faithful driver saved the life of his boss. This driver’s faithfulness towards his boss was an example of past century’s faithfulness. Though Supreme Court of India in its landmark judgment on Goa said that on 19th December 1961 Goa was not liberated but conquered yet Fr. Mendonca went a step forward and remarked openly in his school saying that Goa on that fateful date was not liberated but in fact was Invaded by Bahrat.
Fr. Mendonca was the first Goan educationist to receive the national award for being the best educationist of Goa after the ouster of colonial rule in Goa and this award was presented to him in New Delhi at Rastrapati Bhawan by the renowned philosopher educationist president of India Dr. Radakrishnan. After the presentation of the award the president requested Fr. Mendonca to delay his return to Goa since he wanted to discuss some private matters with Fr. Mendonca concerning Portuguese administration in Goa. Not satisfied with the discussion, the president again invited Fr. Mendonca to Delhi after 3 months to get more information of the subject about which nobody in Goa knew except Fr. Mendonca since his relationship with Portuguese government was very friendly especially with the last Portuguese Governador of Goa, Vassalo e Silva.
After a few days from 19th December 1961 when the situation became normal in Goa, Fr. Mendonca returned from hiding at Bastora to his school at Arpora and resumed his school work. Then immediately Goa Bishop Rebello appointed him as an adviser on Diocesan schools. Candolim St. Theresa’s School was just shifted to the new location in the Church premises under the principalship of the Church Pe. Vigar, Pe. Nicholau Noronha and Fr. Mendonca was advising Pe. Noronha on this school matters. One day during his discussion with Pe. Noronha, Fr. Mendonca as a representative of the Bishop advised Pe. Noronha to stick up to only one job, either of Principal of the school or of Pe. Vigar of the Church because he said both the jobs are independent, each needing full time devotion and concentration. However, in the end, Fr. Mendonca suggested to give priority to Pe. Vigar’s job which is the pastoral job for which Pe. Noronha became priest and not to become school principal. Priest’s job is to do full time pastoral work and not of educational.
Fr. Freddy J. D’Costa when he first time came to Kuwait to stage his Tiatro in the Church hall, he approached the Kuwait Bishop Monsg. Frances Mechallef for permission for hall. Mong. Mechallef refused his permission and immediately fired a letter to Goa Bishop Raul Gonsalves asking him “Why did you send Fr. Freddy to Kuwait? To stage Tiatro? Is it a job of a priest to stage Tiatros by ignoring his pastoral duties? Is he a priest to stage Tiatro or to perform his pastoral duties? And what pastoral significance his visit to Kuwait is having?”
Bishop Gonsalves nor Fr. Freddy had any appropriate answer and they both kept silence admitting their mistake. Today Catholic community is in much trouble needing pastoral help from the priests many of whom have no time to devote their time and energy for this job because they have to devote their precious time for something else for which they did not become priests. Pastoral job is a full time job of a priest without any interference of any other job.
During his first visit to India, the late Pope Paul John advised the clergy to refrain from taking active part in activities other than Pastoral which are yours and nothing else.
Hence, Bishop of Goa will be doing a great service to the Catholic community by splitting the job of Pe. Vigar from the job of the school principal. Entrusting both the jobs into one priest will damage the efficiency of both the jobs.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim,
Goa. Tel: 7507394349.