On 31 May, ICM author Fr Cedric Prakash’s aunt Dr Olinda Pereira passed in Mangalore at the age of 94. Dr Linda was a religious of the Daughters Heart of Mary (the ones of Nirmala Nikentan in Bombay). She has contributed immensely to Church and to Country – particularly in the fields of women empowerment, education and geriatric care. Among other things, she was the founder-principal of the College of Social Work in Mangalore and also started ‘Prabhatara’ in New Delhi.
Below are eulogies by Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, Provincial Sr Philomena D’Sa and former Provincial Jacinta D’Souza.
Dearest Aunty Linda,
On 31 May you said “good bye” to your life here on earth and to us, your loved ones; the next day 1 June, your mortal remains were interred. As I look back these days since your departure, there is just one feeling that keeps resonating in my heart and in my mind: ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’ Strange as it seems, that is the plain truth!
On the day you died, I wrote a spontaneous tribute to you; in that I highlighted three qualities which epitomised you : compassion, that remarkable gift which you had to reach out in love, to one and all- particularly to the lost, the last and the least; courage, that special gift you had to walk the unbeaten path, to go where none others dared to go, to be a pioneer, in a world where ‘mission’ is often relegated to a comfortable act; charismatic, radiating and exemplifying those gifts which truly come from the Holy Spirit. Just basking in these exceptional qualities means ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
You celebrated your golden jubilee of your religious profession in the Congregation of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary on 15 August 2012. It was also your 87th birthday; the Feast of the Assumption and the 65th anniversary of the independence of our country. In my homily on that day, I used an acronym, ‘OLINDA’ for Mary, the Mother of God, saying at the end, “Olinda as a Daughter of the Heart of Mary, has in more ways than one, tried to imitate Mary, her model in Ownership, Leadership, Interiority, Nurturing, Dedication and Availability. Through her exemplary life, we all know, she has meant so much too so many people all these years from the time she made her first profession in the wake of Vatican II exactly fifty years ago”. A clear indicator that ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
In 2015, you completed ninety years on this earth: no small achievement, besides you were physically rather agile and your memory phenomenal. That day, I compared you with Sarah, the wife of Abraham- who received an extraordinary blessing from God at the age of ninety saying, “in a world which is plagued with all kinds of ills and problems, a woman like Olinda Pereira comes like a breath of fresh air: ninety years young with deep faith, tremendous fortitude and great foresight! Ninety is the beginning of new life!” Since you have bequeathed to us that faith, fortitude and foresight means ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
The following year in a tribute to you, I recalled that immortal song of yesteryears by Nat King Cole, ‘You will never grow old!’ Among many other things I said in that tribute is “You will never grow old!” Is a sentiment that will be shared by many of your companions, colleagues, family and others whether you were in Mangalore or in New Delhi; in France or in Kenya- you always made friends and reached out to them in very personal and specific ways. You have always been able to communicate a spiritual depth, a great intellectual calibre and a loving warmth which has endeared you to them. For many you are and will always be a priceless treasure”. Since you will always be that priceless treasure there is no doubt that ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
From the moment people heard that you were ‘no more’, inspite of the restrictions because of the pandemic, many at great risk, came to pay homage to your mortal remains. There have been hundreds of messages and calls from everywhere. Condolence messages also carry tributes to what you meant to people. Social media and well-known online portals have been carrying glowing tributes and even poems of what you meant to people across the years. There is one underlying message in all that people say: that is, ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
In a tribute to you in his homily at the funeral rite, the Bishop of Mangalore Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha said, “our beloved Sr Olinda has done so much for so many people in the field of education, geriatric care, helping those who are struggling and suffering in life, in training and in social work. We should follow her as our role model. Everybody has a good word about her; she was a person who mixed with people irrespective of caste or creed. She has accomplished her mission on Earth, and she will now continue her work in heaven. Thank you Sr Olinda for all that you have done for our people and our city”.
Sr Philomena D’Sa, the Provincial (South) of your Congregation in her eulogy said, “As a faithful Daughter of the Heart of Mary Olinda lived the charism of our religious Society by being flexible and available to respond to the needs of the time and place, either by living in the community or out of the community, in the midst of the people as the mission demands of us.” And in an emotional address to you she added, “Dear Olinda by your simple, humble selfless and unassuming service to humanity, you have inspired us”. True, ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
In the last couple of years, you were ‘convinced’ that your grand-uncle, the Servant of God Msgr. Raymond Mascarenhas, the founder of the Bethany Congregation, was already canonized a Saint. You would vividly ‘describe’ how the process took place since this Pope had no doubt about the holiness of your granduncle. No arguments to the contrary could change your convictions; that however, no longer matters now: we are sure you are with him now in that communion of saints, blessing the Congregation he founded and all of us too .Sr Rose Celine the Superior General of the Bethany Sisters writes about you, “She was an embodiment of compassion to the poor and the neglected especially women. She committed herself for women empowerment. She had great trust in Bethany and appreciation for us”. Need we say why, ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
What you have achieved in this life on earth is simply amazing: you were the visionary and the builder of some of the finest institutions in the country. You were able to help people when they were in dire straits: someone writes from Canada of how a scholarship you helped him get was the turning point in his life. People from all walks of life say that to them you were a friend, a companion, a teacher, a philosopher, a counsellor, a guide, a mentor, an inspirer, a light, an angel, a saint.
The profound words and the metaphors used by them to describe the impact you had on their lives easily run into several pages. For us in the family, you were our lodestar, our guiding light, someone we could confide in, a ‘mother-figure’ particularly after Cynthia, your sister and our mother, left for her eternal reward in November 2010. The world recognized your talents and services too: you have received awards and other accolades whilst on earth. For you, those did not matter. You have run the race and that final reward is deservedly yours. In essence though ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
There much more to say dearest Aunty. I will stop here; when one’s heart is full, words really do not easily flow. In writing this, I needed to emphasize that your warmth, your compassion, your selfless service, your humility, your simplicity, your ability to reach out, will always be etched in the hearts and memory of all! You will live forever! Yes Aunty that is why ‘we can never say goodbye to you!’
Intercede for us from above,
Cedric
Eulogy by Provincial Sr Philomena D’Sa
Daughters Heart of Mary
As I gaze at the mortal remains of our dear Sr. Olinda, I visualize a video of events and memories of my association with her right from the year 1968 till today. I would like to sum up the journey of her life in the following words of Mother Mary” Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it done to me according to your Word”.
As a faithful Daughter of the Heart of Mary Olinda lived the charism of our religious Society by being flexible and available to respond to the needs of the time and place, either by living in the community or out of the community, in the midst of the people as the mission demands of us. She had the experience of both forms of life, especially the later form from the year 1998, when she lived in an apartment in Falnir with late Mrs Britto so to be available for counselling services to religious and others, and later on in Valencia ” at Vishwas “ cottage as Directress of Vishwas trust to serve the senior citizens.
Following the footsteps of the Master who lived for others, Olinda too dedicated her entire life for the Education of young people by imparting professional training to empower oneself and to serve the marginalized, through the School of Social work which was her brain child. Like Mother Mary the daring woman, Olinda worked tirelessly for the empowerment of women, and of course her heart went out with love and compassion to all, especially to the senior citizens, where she negotiated with the Government and managed to get a 24 hour help line for them and also fulfilled her dream of having a Golden Age, Eco village at Fermai for the Senior Citizens.
Even when she was ill during these past few months and confined to bed due to the fall on April 11th followed by a major risky surgery she never, ever complained about her aches and pains but always grateful to the services she received and very lovingly she inquired about others.
She has touched many lives, and lit many lamps which today are shining all over the world serving humanity. May the good work which the lord began in her, be carried on by all those whom she has, taught, inspired and mentored.
I am very grateful to our dear Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha for his hospital visits to Olinda, and today for joining us during this last phase of our dear Olinda’s journey to the Father. I appreciate and thank our Parish priest Fr. James D’Souza and team for all the help they have given us. Many well wishers, Family members, friends, staff, members of Vishwas trust, Alumnai, Drs and Nurses, care givers, especially Geetha and Gracy have assisted Olinda and the Roshni community, we are touched by your concern and love, thank you one and all. I appreciate and thank the superior of Roshni community, Vida Sequeira and all the members for your tender, loving care of Olinda.
Dear Olinda by your simple, humble selfless and unassuming service to humanity, you have inspired us. Today as we thank God for the gift of your person to our religious family, and to the larger Society, we pray that the Good Lord who has accomplished His mission in you may reward you hundred folds, and grant you Eternal Peace. Thank you for your edifying life. Rest in Peace dear Olinda.
Eulogy by former Provincial Jacinta D’Souza
Daughters Heart of Mary
Olinda Pereira was gifted with life on 15th August 1925, the youngest daughter of Martin Bernard and Lilly Pereira, and having two older sisters, Sr. Bernadette AC and Cynthia Lobo. She now leaves behind two nieces, Bernadette and Germaine, and two nephews, Roland and Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ. She belonged to a reputed family in Mangalore. Her two maternal uncles were priests and a grand uncle, Msgr. Raymond Francis C. Mascarenhas, now proclaimed a Servant of God, has founded in 1921 the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany.
Olinda graduated from St. Agnes College and did her B.T. from St. Ann’s College of Education. As a teacher at St. Mary’s School, Falnir, she had a great impact on her pupils. Olinda played an active role in the National Council for Catholic Women and participated in one of its international conferences where she providentially met Catherine d’Hempteen, a Daughters Heart of Mary (DHM) from Belgium.
Olinda joined the Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary in 1960, made her First Vows on 15th August 1962, Five Year Vows on 15th August 1966 and Perpetual Vows on 16th August 1981. In the meanwhile, she completed her M.A. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi and Ph.D. from Mysore University, Mysore.
As a person of deep faith, Olinda dared to take many risks and ventured on un-trodden paths. A warm, gentle, compassionate and caring person, she was sensitive to the needs of others, especially the underprivileged.
A great visionary, Olinda with her talent for relationships set the School of Social Work on a firm foundation, after having taken over in 1961 from Arline A’Hearn, DHM from Canada, who could not return to India due to visa problems. Olinda steered the School of Social Work to great heights and now the college is a pioneer institute of Social Work Education in the state of Karnataka.
Along with the development of the School of Social Work, Olinda established social service centres viz. Bolar community development centre and Family Service Agency to help needy people as well as serve for the field placements for the students of social work. In 1977, a rural community centre was established in Ullal, which later served as a training centre for teachers and helpers of pre-school children. Other ventures started were the School for the Blind, Fibre Centre and Home Science Courses which were discontinued.
Olinda was a member of several local, state and national bodies. Her commitment and dedication were proverbial and won for her several civic, state and national awards. In addition, she was the superior of Roshni Nilaya from 1975 to 1978.
On retiring from the School of Social Work, Olinda was transferred to Delhi where she was superior from 1987 to 1990 and overcame many obstacles in getting government grants for the Women’s Hostel and the Women’s Centre.
As one of the three DHM pioneers who started work in Kenya, Olinda lived in Nairobi from 1990 to 1994 and took great pains to learn Swaheli to help in pastoral work. Back in Mangalore in 1998, she established Vishwas, a Centre for the elderly, especially the house bound, lonely and neglected. Other neighbourhood centres and the 24 hours Police helpline ensured prompt service for senior citizens.
Olinda’s dynamism, simplicity and humility endeared her to students, alumni, staff, officials, friends, relatives and the DHM family. An admirable characteristic of Olinda was her inspiring speeches at public meetings, which she regularly attended until a few months back.
Her untimely fall in 11th April 2020 followed by a surgery a week later confined her to bed. She was still alert and cheerful and responded to the visitors and telephone calls. During her convalescence, DHM community at Roshni Nilaya cared for Olinda tenderly, also helping her with physiotherapy, hoping that she would regain use of her feet.
Early at dawn of 31st May 2020, the sixtieth anniversary of the Roshni foundation, and when the universal church celebrated the feast of Pentecost, Olinda breathed her last to answer the Master’s final call: “Come good and faithful servant”. She is now interceding for us with God Almighty.
The funeral service of Olinda was held on 1st June 2020, at 3.30pm followed by burial at Valencia Church, Mangalore. Due to lockdown there was no Eucharistic celebration, but we had a prayer service conducted by the Bishop of Mangalore Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha who also blessed the mortal remains. We thank God for the gift of Olinda and her inspiring life here on earth.