‘Warm, wise and wonderful’

Fr Bernard Fernandes

The principal of Don Bosco High School, Fr. Bernard Fernandes passed away in Goa on Tuesday morning after a cardiac arrest. Fr. Fernandes, born in August 1965, was 56-years-old.

Cliff Richard D'Souza, vice-principal of the school said, "Fr. Fernandes was away in his hometown of Caranzalem in Goa, he was visiting during holidays, and passed away there. All through yesterday, we, his colleagues, students, parents were in shock and disbelief as the news spread."

Both D'Souza and Leslie Machado, the school's football coach said Fr. Fernandes was suffering from high diabetes. D'Souza said, "He leaves behind a legacy of love for his colleagues, students, parents and in fact all those associated with him beyond the school too. His smiling face will be part of memories now. I remember how deft he was with words, even when it came to correcting a person, telling them they were wrong. He would do so in such a way, that the person being corrected would not feel hurt but realised his wrong. He carried his felicity with the language and words to paper too, and was a very arresting writer. He was also in sync with the times, being fairly active on social media."

The youth connect, D'Souza stated was not just relegated to the digital world. "He helped needy youngsters, also promoted them if they had merit. He had a great vision for the school, and brought it into the top 10 ranked schools in the state. Fr. Fernandes was a principal who gave equal stress to all aspects of student life, extra-curricular activities, sport, academics."

Machado could vouch for the late principal's support for sports. "I have been a football coach for more than three decades with the school. He never interfered in the way I coached. He was such a down-to-earth man, a real sparkling gem of a person," said Machado.

The Salesian Province of Bombay, announced Fr Bernard Fernandes's passing stating that he made his First Profession on May 24, 1984 at Nashik and was ordained on December 18, 1994 at Panjim. The funeral will be held at 09.00 hrs on May 26 at the Don Bosco Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Panjim, Goa followed by the burial at the Salesian Cemetery in Fatorda.