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Born: 25-3-1918 Professed: 5-9-1936 Died: 1941
Cleric Thomas was born in Ireland and arrived in Tirupattur in 1936. He made his final profession on February 3, 1939. He died in Bombay two years later at the age of 23.
BRO. LAWRENCE SANTANA
Born: - October 1871 Professed: 1905 Died: Bombay 1- 1- 1943
Bro. Lawrence was born in Pinera de Azcos in Spain. He came to Shillong in 1922 with Msgr. Mathias. In 1933 he was transferred to Bombay where he spent the last years of his life. His dedication and cheerfulness were a constant source of inspiration to all the confreres.
BRO. ANDREW ROUILLER
Born: 9-5-1915 Professed: 13-8-1936 Died: 1-2-1944
Bro. Rouiller came to India in 1938 and was among the early pioneers at Tirupattur. Malarial fever cut short his life at the young age of 29 and he died in Tirupattur. He spent a few years in Bombay as a practical trainee.
BRO. CHARLES BELLANI
Born: 31-3-1881 Professed: 1924 Died: 5-3-1945
Born in Italy, Bro. Charles came to India in 1928 and served selflessly during the early years at Tardeo and then at Matunga, Bombay. He died in Genoa.
FR. JOSEPH HAUBER
Born: 2-1-1878 Professed: 29-9-1908 Ordained: 12-4-1915 Died: 21.10.1946
Fr Hauber was born at Zabern, Alsace. Although in his mid forties, he volunteered to join the first Salesian missionary expedition to Assam in 1922. He arrived in Bombay in 1928 to start the first Salesian work at Tardeo. Due to the lack of finance he underwent many hardships in consolidating the Salesian presence. He returned to North-East India in 1932. A few years later he died of cancer at Shillong.
FR. SERAFINO COLOMBO
Born: 12-10-1904 Professed: 8-12-1936 Ordained: 20-9-1945 Died: 29-11-1956
Fr. Serafino, also among the first group of novices at Tirupattur, worked for some time at Tardeo, Bombay. He died in Italy.
FR. AUSTIN DEHLERT
Born: 2-7-1888 Professed: 27-6-1920 Ordained: 10-6-1922 Died: 5-12-1958
Fr. Dehlert was born in Herbigotten, Brunland. He worked with Fr. Eugene Mederlet in Tanjore. He later accompanied Fr. Joseph Hauber to Bombay to help establish the Salesian house at Tardeo Castle. He died in Bombay.
FR. FRANCIS CUSINI
Born: 6-12-1915 Professed: 11-9-1933 Ordained: 30-11-1944 Died: 3-7-1963
Born at Livigno, Italy, Fr. Cusini came to India in 1934 and entered the house of Tirupattur for Philosophy. As a practical trainee he spent some time at Tardeo, Bombay.
DEAC. MATHEW KADUTHALACKEL
Born: 24-1-1934 Professed: 24-5-1956 Ordained: (deacon) 11-2-1965 Died: 27-4-1965
Deacon Mathew was born at Mundathanam, Kerala. He had been eagerly looking forward to his priestly ordination when he died of typhoid a few days before. As a young Salesian he worked in Panjim and Madras.
FR. HUGH TUENA
Born: 24-12-1906 Professed: 29-1-1935 Ordained: 8-9-1940 Died: 5-5-1966
Fr. Tuena was born in Rome. He was a well known and beloved Salesian who spent a few years in Bombay. He was for ten years Rector of Don Bosco, Katpadi. From 1956 to 1961 he was Rector of St. Bede's Madras. In 1961 he was transferred to Tiupattur as Rector of the Salesian house.
FR. ORPHEUS MANTOVANI
Born: 9-10-1911 Professed: 3-1-1942 Ordained: 7-12-1944 Died: 19-5-1967
He arrived at Matunga to begin work as a catechist in the year 1948. His coming helped enliven the church functions. He was instrumental in organising the Marian congress and exhibition held at Matunga. Zeal for souls and compassion for the poor were his two outstanding characteristics. His good work as parish priest for 11 years at St. Francis Xavier's Broadway, Madras, was surpassed only by his magnificent efforts for the poor in Vyasarpadi. He was the founder of the Beatitudes Social Welfare Centre, an institution which today bears witness to his love and compassion for the poor and the downtrodden.
BRO. MICHAEL CUSINI
Born: 6-9-1911 Professed: 1939 Died: 27-9-1967
Bro. Cusini was born at Livigno, Italy. He worked in Panjim for some time. His chief characteristics were simplicity and humility. He was ready for any good work.
FR. ALOYSIUS RAVALICO
Born: 6-3-1906 Professed: 14-9-1924 Ordained: 2-4-1932 Died: 17-12-1967
Fr. Ravalico was born into a family of seven children. He sailed to India along with Fr. Vendrame and others. He was the founder of the Tezpur mission. One of his transfers brought him to Goa where he had a flourishing oratory at Odxel. He was appointed procurator of the diocese of Dibrugarh and began pioneering evangelization in Manipur. He expired in Mawlai, Shillong. He had a flair for writing and his poems, reviews and articles appeared in many distinguished journals.
FR. JOSEPH DEAN
Born: 15-11-1921 Professed: 1939 Ordained: 7-8-1949 Died: 6-4-1968
Fr. Deane was born in Belfast, Ireland. He served as an educator in the houses of Tirupattur, Bombay, Shillong and Poonammallee. He returned to England in 1963.
FR. ADOLF TORNQUIST
Born: 4-12-1887 Professed: 14-11-1922 Ordained: 20-5-1930 Died: 20-4-1971
Born at Buenos Aires into a very rich family, he left all for his vocation to the priesthood. He was ordained a diocesan priest and became secretary to Card. Cagliero. He joined the Salesian Congregation and was to be sent as a missionary to Japan and China. He came to India and was the second Rector at Tardeo Castle, Bombay.
FR. JOSEPH MURPHY
Born: 4-4-1920 Professed: 31-8-1938 Ordained: 7-9-1948 Died: 14-10-1971
Born at Newcastle England, he worked in Bombay for a few years after his ordination. In 1954 he was appointed Principal of the newly erected college at Tirupattur. In 1962 he was sent to Lonavla and was the first Rector of the new aspirantate. Many of his 'boys' recall his warm personality. He was indeed a phenomenon to contend with. His strict discipline and English humour coupled with a typical love for cricket broke the monotony of the lads during those first hard days. Two years later, he was appointed Rector and Principal of St. Bede's Madras. In 1966 he returned to Tirupattur as Rector where he died while playing cricket, due to a massive heart attack.
FR. FRANCIS FOSSATI
Born: 5-3-1897 Professed: 25-12-1925 Ordained: 26-4-1931 Died: 24-8-1972
Born at Monza, Italy, Fr. Francis Fossati worked for 20 years in the mission centre of Digboi, Assam. Earlier he worked in South India and Bengal. He came to Bombay when foreign missionaries were expelled from Assam in 1969. He was a man of duty and prayer.
Fr. EPIPHANIUS FERNANDEZ
Born: 6-1-1936 Professed: 24-5-1958 Ordained: 9-4-1967 Died: 24-5-1973
Fr. Epiphanius was born at Katha, Burma. After his ordination he worked in Raliang Parish. He died in Bombay under tragic circumstances.
FR. MARIO ZOCCHI
Born: 26-10- 1909 Professed: 29-1-1933 Ordained: 8-12-1943 Died: 24-10-1974
Born at Busto Arsizio, Italy. Fr. Mario Zocchi came to India as a novice. He was ordained while in the concentration camp during the war. His priestly ministry took him to many parts of the Madras province and to Bombay.
BRO. GEORGE VIEGAS
Born: 3 -12- 1897 Professed: 8-12- 1935 Died: 18-2- 1975
Born into a middle class family at Sohagpur, he heard about the Salesians while working in the Overseas Cable & Wireless Co. He had a very lucrative post. Yet he gave it up to follow his call. He was noted for being dutiful and efficient. His determination to stay as a Salesian was clear. After his training he spent his life at Tardeo and Matunga. He could be considered the right hand man of Fr. Maschio, helping him tide over the debts and advising him on men and matters of Bombay city. He set up the administrative infrastructure of the fledgling institution at Matunga. He was a very capable and experienced man who specialised in accountancy. He was ready to do odd jobs like being the book store manager. He loved any kind of work and shunned all material benefits. His clothes were simple and bore witness to his poverty. He would use the simplest mode of transport with a very frugal life style. He excelled as a community man bringing joy to all. To all his undertakings he added that touch of efficiency, perfection and his ready wit.
FR. ALOYSIUS CERATO
Born: 24-11-1908 Professed: 6-1-1927 Ordained: 8-12-1934 Died: 24-5-1976
Fr. Cerato was born at Fonzaso, Italy. He was a zealous missionary in the plains of Assam especially in North Lakhimpur. He had a calm and undaunted disposition. He came to Bombay in 1969 when the foreign missionaries were expelled from Assam.
Fr. VLADMIR ONDRASHEK
Born: 30-12-1918 Professed: 1936 Ordained: 29-6-1946 Died: 16-7-1977
Fr. Ondrasek was born at Ujezdec (Czechoslovakia) and came to India in 1948. He served in Matunga, Bombay and endeared himself to the boys. He was later appointed the Principal of Sacred Heart College, Calcutta from 1965 to 1968. Later he returned to Tirupattur to teach in the college. In May 1971 he went over to Australia to spend the remaining years of his priestly life. He expired in Sydney.
FR. CONSTANTIUS PO
Born: 30-1- 1910 Professed: 24-5- 1950 Died: 3-9- 1977
Bro. Constantius Po was born at Taleigao, Goa. He was the first candidate from the house of Panjim, joining a year after the house began in 1946. He had worked first at the Government Printing Press and then moved to Deira in Portuguese Africa. There he started his own printing press. In his thirties, he read about the Salesians and with the guidance of Fr. Scuderi joined the society. The money he brought with him was used to feed the orphans. He was soon put in charge of the little press at Panjim. He began his novitiate in 1949. His greatest joy was his oratory apostolate. He worked at different centres in South India and returned to Goa in 1953. He was sent to Italy for training in new techniques of printing. On his return the press began to grow and provide some income to maintain the poor boarders. Later he even took up the carpentry section. When there was danger that the Odxel land would be lost to the tenants he took charge of the coconut grove and cashew plantation. Daily he would go there on his motorcycle and return in the evening. He was completing the construction of a small retreat-cum-holiday house when death beckoned him. His spirit of poverty was exemplary especially since he came from a middle-class family and had to cope with extreme poverty in the pioneering days. The great number of past pupils at his funeral testify to the efficacy of his pastoral charity.
FR. JOSEPH BOIRA
Born: 25-6-1899 Professed: 21-9-1924 Ordained: 24-3-1928 Died: 1-4-1978
Fr. Boira was born in Morrel del Camp, Spain and arrived in India in 1934. He made full use of his musical talent at Tardeo, Bombay and later as choir master at St. Mary's Cathedral, Madras.
FR. DOUGLAS WOLLASTON
Born: 11-12-1902 Professed: 21-1-1925 Ordained: 5-7-1931 Died: 1979
Fr. Wollaston was the prefect of studies of the newly opened school at Tardeo, Bombay. He was a great educationist and formator. He died after suffering for nearly 5 years.
FR. JOSEPH AMALADOSSOU
Born: 18-10-1917 Professed: 1949 Ordained: 31-5-1951 Died: 16-7-1979
Fr. Joseph was born in Pondicherry and spent most of his priestly life in the south although he worked for a while at Wadala and Panjim. From 1965 till his death he was parish priest at Tirupattur.
FR. EMILIO DABOVE
Born: 18-11-1903 Professed: 26-5-1929 Ordained: 1939 Died: 31-1-1981
Born at Sassello, Italy, Fr. Dabove filled the 42 years of his priestly life with zeal and activity. He served in various parishes and institutions. He worked in Goa for some time. He was often appointed provincial economer and provincial councillor. His last assignment was at Wellington (Nilgiris) from 1971 to 1973, after which he left for Italy.
FR. HENRY TORRA
Born: 31-1- 1920 Professed: 24-5- 1951 Ordained: 27-6- 1960 Died: 18-5- 1982
Fr. Torra was born at Albacete, Spain. He joined the Salesians as a lay brother and served in the technical school at Tirupattur for some time. Later he went to Shillong to pursue his priestly studies. After his ordination he worked in Calcutta, Madras, Panjim and Margao. He was one of the pioneers who established the foundations of Fatorda, Goa.
FR. VINCENT SCUDERI
Born: 30-5-1902 Professed: 20-9- 1918 Ordained: 29-5- 1926 Died: 22-11- 1982
(See special article under PIONEERS)
FR. ERNEST CLAVEL
Born: 13-5-1917 Professed: 8-10-1939 Ordained: 8-10-1949 Died: 3-4-1983
Born at Eias, Fr. Clavel arrived in India in 1938 and completed his novitiate at Tirupattur. After ordination he served in Bombay.
FR. HUGH McGLINCHEY
Born: 13-10-1916 Professed: 7-10-1941 Ordained: 29-7- 1945 Died: 27-4-1983
Fr. McGlinchey was born at Belfast. He belonged to the first group of novices at Tirupattur in 1935. He served at Panjim and was on Radio Goa daily with his religious programme named "Hora Catolica". He also worked in Bombay and then served the Madras province for many years before returning to his native land. He died in Dublin.
FR. IGNATIUS RUBIO
Born: 8-4- 1921 Ordained: 13-8- 1950 Died: 15-4- 1983
Fr. Rubio was born at Barcelona in Spain. He possessed a creative and artistic mind. He built a number of churches and religious institutions in North East India as Procurator first of the Dibrugarh Diocese and later of the Shillong-Guwahati Archdiocese. He worked in Madras and Bombay.
FR. JOHN GIACOMELLO
Born: 11-11- 1911 Professed: 14-9- 1933 Ordained: 5-6-1941 Died: 26-6-1985
Fr. Giacomello was born at Almisano, Italy. After his novitiate in Italy he came to India as a missionary and did his regency in Bombay. He spent 23 years as Administrator and Principal. Fondly known as "Fr. Jack" he would put everyone at ease. He was appointed Rector and Principal of the houses at Matunga and Kurla. He served as parish priest at Wadala. His last years were spent in Borivili as Confessor. He returned to Italy to recoup and while there, passed away. He was the first Vice-Provincial of the Bombay Province. He was a much sought after confessor. Cardinal Gracias had him as Confessor for several years before he died. He was a man who could spend hours with people-listening and guiding them. As a result he would often turn up for lunch at 3 p.m. He was loved by the boys and parents. Many a Salesian will recall his guiding hand in their vocation story. His health was a constant cross and yet he never complained. Towards the end of his life he suffered a great deal and found it difficult to walk. His sister who helped him in his last days, recounts that he endured all his trials for an increase in vocations for India.
FR. JOSEPH CARRENO
Born: 23-10- 1905 Professed: 25-7- 1922 Ordained: 21-5-1932 Died: 29-5-1986
(See special article under PIONEERS)
FR. BENEDICT FURTADO
Born: 2-12- 1930 Professed: 24-5-1953 Ordained: 29-6-1962 Died: 13-6-1986
Fr. Benedict was born in Bombay. He finished his schooling at Don Bosco, Matunga. He passed out from Don Bosco, Matunga, and completed his graduation at Khalsa College before proceeding to the novitiate. From the early years he showed great zeal in the Oratory work and any work that involved the young. He began his priestly ministry as Catechist in Matunga and then spent several years in South India in different schools. In 1969, he was Principal at Panjim and then in 1976, Rector of Don Bosco Youth Centre, Pune where he was responsible for the formation of young SDBs doing university studies. 1978 saw him back in Panjim as Rector and Principal. He was instrumental in making Don Bosco known and loved in Goa. In 1983 he began medical investigations for a persistant cold and cough... only later, when he was confessor at Lonavla, was cancer detected. In 1985 he went to Quepem as Confessor and Catechism teacher. His treatment continued. Finally, in 1986 he returned to the Provincial House. The disease began to take it’s toll and his patient acceptance of his suffering till the end was an inspiration to all who came to visit him. He was an educator par excellence with a special sensitivity to the poor. He would personally follow up the weaker students, taking a keen interest in the night school, admitting poor and deserving boys even while some accused him of lowering the standard. He guided and encouraged many by his personal example and practical advice. He would meticulously follow up the boys who showed an inclination to religious life. He even offered his sufferings for vocations. He was a fervent devotee of the Sacred Heart. His style of religious and Salesian life was simple but attractive. He was straightforward in his dealings and made everyone welcome. Testimony of his deep faith was the serenity he exuded during the last stages of his earthly sojourn.
FR. ALFRED MARIOTTA
Born: 3-4-1911 Professed: 6-1-1931 Ordained: 30-9-1939 Died: 22-10-1987
Born in Switzerland, Fr. Alfred Mariotta studied at a Salesian school. The Salesians found the young lad a very promising vocation. He was sent to the missionary aspirantate in Ivrea and was among the first batch of missionaries to come to India in 1930. After his ordination he spent many fruitful years as Headmaster of schools in Madras before he came to Panjim. For 20 years he was in charge of the Past Pupils Federation and was its National Delegate. He organised the 3rd Asia-Australia Congress in 1984. In 1985 he was appointed Vice Principal of the Primary Section in Matunga and here he was much loved as a father. Every Christmas he would play the role of Santa Claus. Thanks to his blue eyes and white hair, he suited the role both in appearance and in his comportment. He was a capable organiser responsible for organizing the Missionary Exhibition in Madras, the pilgrimage of the Pilgrim Virgin and the Rosary Crusade. He was also responsible for the construction of houses for the poor in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala, Gujarat & Meghalaya. He was a devout religious and a lovable friend of the poor. He was extremely conscientious about any task allotted to him. He was methodical and meticulous in carrying out his tasks.
Fr. MICHAEL DEVALLE
Born: 18-11-1908 Professed: 6-1-1927 Ordained: 7-7-1934 Died: 13-10-1988
Born in Clavesana, Italy, Fr. Devalle was a cleric in his third year of philosophy when he was asked to join Fr. Hauber in starting the first house in Bombay. He was a pioneer missionary in Tezpur, Barpeta Road and Salana. He was a much sought after teacher and spiritual guide for the 23 years in St. Paul's Minor Seminary, Shillong.
FR. VICTOR DE SOUZA
Born: 19-1-1922 Professed: 21-12-1945 Ordained: 1-8-1953 Died: 14-6-1989
He was born at Ratlam, India.He was brought up by pious and God-fearing parents. He left his job in the Indian Railways and joined Don Bosco, Matunga. Life was tough but Victor was ready to face it, in order to follow His call. He worked in various capacities as Rector, Administrator, Principal in the following houses in the Province: Lonavala, Baroda, Fatorda, Kurla, Andheri, Nasik, Wadala. While at Don Bosco, Andheri, he was diagnosed as suffering from cancer and succumbed to the disease. He will be remembered as a forceful orator who took his preaching seriously, always ready for a homily, or for a toast at a wedding. Being available for confession was another characteristic of his. He considered careful spiritual direction of his penitents an important part of his mission as a priest. He also had a green thumb, gardens with beautiful rose plants would sprout up wherever he went. Towards the end, even in his suffering, he showed great courage by accepting with resignation the work of the Spirit in his life.
