Belgaum: Fr Joachim D’Mello SJ, former vice principal of St Paul’s High School in Belgaum, passed away in Barbados, Guyana on January 21.
Born on October 7, 1952, in the village of Neura-Tiswadi, D’Mello entered the Society of Jesus on August 25, 1974 and was ordained a priest on May 3, 1986. He taught at St Britto HS in Mapusa, and St Paul HS in Belgaum, before serving as principal of Loyola High School from 1997-2002.
In a press note, Fr Merwin D’Souza SJ, Goa Province Development Director, described late Fr D’Mello as a “committed Jesuit who enjoyed accompanying students on their path to enlightenment. He was a mentor and guide to many youngsters. He loved nature and was at home with snakes, students thus gave him the title ‘Snake man’.”
Late Fr D’Mello went to Guyana in 2002 for his sabbatical but stayed on to serve the people in that region. He first started at St Pius Church in Georgetown but soon moved to the interior where he spent most of his earlier years. His last assignment was assistant to the parish priest at St Francis of Assisi in Barbados.
“He will be remembered for his special dealing with students. Blending strictness and kindness,” said Fr D’Souza.
Added Fr Christopher LLanos, SJ, Regional Superior of the Society of Jesus in Guyana, Barbados, and Jamaica (Guyana Region): “We remember with gratitude what Fr Joachim did for the Church and the society in Guyana and before coming to the Guyana Region.”
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon Fr Joachim D’Mello.
Surely Joaquim D’Melo, we will all miss you. Through the forty years or so of knowing you, i still admire your childlike simplicity, your honesty and your charism to do the Lord’s work with school going boys, organising sports and games camps for them. Your sacrifice to work in the missions in Guyana and now, Barbados, till unto death, is one of the greatest and noblest of all commitments, for which you will always be remembered.