Missionary in Guyana Fr Ronald makes his final commitment

On : 2023-05-19

Fr Ronald Fernandes SJ, a Jesuit missionary in British Guyana from Karnataka Province, pronounced his final vows on Thursday, May 18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Nirmal Nagar, Dharwad. Provincial of Karnataka province Fr Dionysius Vaz received his vows in the presence of many Jesuits from Karnataka province.

In his homily at the mass, Fr Olvin Veigas, a companion of Fr Ronald, said that the final vows of a Jesuit are an occasion to commit oneself completely to the Lord. Quoting theologian Karl Barth, Fr Veigas said, “A priest must have a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.”

Fr Ronald was felicitated at a simple function after the mass at Vidyaniketan scholastigate. Fr Edwin Anthony, another missionary in Guyana, raised the toast for Fr Ronald. He enumerated many anecdotes from the life of Fr Ronald and called him a “rugged Jesuit who has skin of buffalo, back of a bull and mouth of a pig.”

Provincial Fr Vaz felicitated Fr Ronald and said that after the final vows a Jesuit becomes the Society. “Fr Ronald is a true missionary who cares for the poor. In the people of Amerindians in Guyana, he has found his true vocation of caring for the marginalised,” he said. He also said that with the final vows, Fr Ronald is no more applicatus, but a complete member of French Guyana which will soon become Caribbean province. “However, he can always visit Karnataka as he does now and he will continue to be dear to us,” Fr Vaz added.

In his address, Fr Ronald recalled his journey in the Society of Jesus and thanked all those who made this journey a memorable one. “I fondly remember my years spent here in the province. Also, I cannot forget all my formators and other Jesuits who have made me who I am. I remember my father who is no more, who had made a deep impact in my life,” he said.

Scholastics from Vidyaniketan sang the choir and looked after all arrangements. Superior Fr Francis Fernandes welcomed the gathering.