A LOVING TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED BROTHER FELIPE S.J.
Dear beloved of the Father,
On the 4th of February 2011, our beloved Bro. Felipe S.J. left for his heavenly reward having lived an exceptionally beautiful, holy and active life. In and through his work, play and deep spirituality he has left behind a legacy so great that all those who came in contact with him will find it absolutely difficult to erase from their hearts and memory.
The 7th day Eucharist was celebrated on 10th of February 2011. Many Fathers, sisters and friends and sports lovers gathered together to pay their respects to this great Champion. Fr. Charlie Dias S.J. was the main celebrant for the occasion. Fr. Charlie in his sermon brought out the beautiful life, work and character of Bro. Felipe through a meaningful song he himself had composed.
After the Eucharistic Celebration various persons came forward to to share their experience with Bro. Felipe and how he had touched their lives and made it sublime. Tears did roll down their eyes as they fondlly remembered Bro. Felipe. Among the speakers were Mr. Hardev Jadeja (Treasurer, All India Football Federation), Dr. Shanta, Mrs Rose Albert, Fr. Rosyton and Mr. Charlie Viegas. They stirred the hearts of all present and expressed their deep gratitude for the person of Bro. Felipe and felt his absence in their lives.
Fr. Charlie Dias on this occasion paid respect to Bro. Felipe by his touching words. I would like to put it here for all of us to read and thank God for our Beloved Brother and pray that the good Lord bless him with eternal bliss.
Speech of Fr. Charlie Dias on the 7th day Mass (10/2/2011)
Dear Friends and Sports lovers,
We gather this evening to bid farewell once again to our beloved Bro. Felipe. To many of us he was a loving and understanding brother. To some of us he was a father figure, and to all sports lovers he was a wonderful coach and a director of sports.
Rosary School, sports and games were his first love. The play field was his domain in which he trained, shaped and nurtured young players. Like a master craftsman, he taught them basic skills and guided them to soar higher and higher and to excel in sports and games.
Rev. Bro. Felipe was brave and fierce like a lion on the sports field. He would never give up come what may and played to the final whistle. He infused the spirit of sportsmanship and the "never say die" attitude in all the rosarites. He was brave like a lion, yet he was humble and meek like a lamb and harmless like a dove in his daily life. He always worked hard behind the scene whether it was the School Annual Day, the Sports day or the Fun fair. There you would find him working busy as a bee, but always behind the scene.
Bro. Felipe believed in the principle of "Simple living and hard working". He picked up these qualities from his early childhood way back in Spain. He left Spain for good, leaving behind his near and dear ones and came to India to love and to serve the people of our country.
Rosary school was his second home and every rosarite was his dear and precious child. It is heartening to note that during his reign as director of sports, Rosary School became the champion team for successive years in Football, Hockey, Basketball and Athletics. He was elected as the President of Gujarat State Football Association. A title he did not much like or care. What he liked was to see the development and improvement in the field of sports and football in Gujarat State. He loved to encourage every sportsman to do better and better and to excel in every discipline.
When his health failed him, he was shifted to Jeevan Darshan for better care and treatment. But this separation from his first love was a difficult pill to swallow. He spent the remaining years at Jeevan Darshan and waited patiently till God blew the final whistle on Friday, 4th February, calling him to a better playfield.
Dear Bro. Felipe, as we say Good bye to you, we remember and cherish the Golden memories when you were in our amidst -
- We salute you for being an upright honest and dedicated person.
- We salute you for being an inspiration to all of us.
- We salute you for infusing in all rosarites the spirit of true sportsmanship.
- We salute you for being a model of hardwork and dedication.
- We salute you for being the Father of sports of Rosary and Vadodara.
- We salute you for your selfless service.
We thank you for all that you have done and been to us - You have moved on to a higher and a better place, to a new play field and to begin a new game in the garden of Paradise.
Good Bye Bro. Felipe - Aavjo / Adios / Amigo ......................... Till we meet again.
May his soul rest in peace - Amen.
Fr. Lawrence Rodrigues
(Diocesan Director for Social Communications - Baroda)
(Kindly pass this email or the blog www.dcsc-baroda.blogspot.com to all your friends, parishioners, others so that all benefit from it)
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