‘Fr Hilario Fernades was a man of the heart’

On : 2024-05-30

Fr Hilario Fernandes SJ (93), a Jesuit of Karnataka province, died at Mount St Joseph (MSJ), Bangalore on May 10. His funeral was held at MSJ on May 12. Provincial Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ presided over the eucharist, while Fr Clarence D’Souza preached the homily.

Fr Hilario was novice master for nearly five years, besides being a retreat director and counsellor for practically whole of his life. He also worked in Singapore for many years preaching retreats and helping in spiritual direction and counselling. Even after his return to India, he paid a visit to Singapore regularly to render his spiritual services.

Delivering a eulogy after the funeral mass, Fr Frederick D’Silva described Fr Hilario as a ‘jewel of a man’. “Fr Hilario was a man of the heart because of which he touched the hearts and lives of so many Jesuits, religious and the laity. He was a formator both in the province and in Singapore and his forte was cura personalis. He came across to one and all as a perfect gentleman: gentle, decent, peaceful, and loath to hurt anyone, not even the most difficult people. His love for the Society, his knowledge and appreciation of Ignatian Spirituality, his wide general knowledge and his rich repertoire of humorous anecdotes made him a much sought after and well appreciated Jesuit. His love of books, his artistic temperament and his love for literature both secular and spiritual had been important factors in making him a well-integrated Jesuit,” Fr D’Silva said.

Fr D’Silva also pointed out that Fr Hilario had a unique sense of humour which would not disparage, demean, denigrate or defame anyone. “It was always an ennobling, encouraging and enriching experience to engage him in a conversation,” he added.

Recounting Fr Hilario’s final moments, Fr D’Silva said that “he yielded himself gently into the waiting arms of a loving Father in the evening of Friday, 10 May 2024, with a gentle smile on his dying lips, surrounded by a caring community by his death bed. And, now, we can see him there resting in the Father’s embrace, looking at us with his usual smile, and promising to obtain for us too, the same grace.”