Tribute of love to late Fr Boniface Mendes

The day, December 19, 1989, proved to be a sad day in the Archdiocese of Nagpur as the city witnessed the death, following the cardiac arrest of Fr Boniface Mendes, a dedicated social worker and a saintly Goan priest at the age of 64.

As his 38^th anniversary of his priestly is being commemorated at Pomburpa church on December 21, we cannot help paying a lovely tribute to our beloved priestly brother and recalling his brief life.

His sudden death cast a spell of sadness in Nagpur, Kamptee, and elsewhere in the archdiocese leaving the clergy, the religious and the common people speechless. More so were his priestly brothers, Fr Felix Mendes and Us-returned Fr Jose Mendes, who rushed from Goa and Nagpur to attend the funeral.

Notwithstanding the pangs of sorrow, and with a heart of gratitude, a massive crowd dominated by youth attended his funeral the following day and to pay last respect to his soul.

Fr Bonnie, as my brother was popularly known by his family and the rest, always maintained a low profile, preferring the company of the poor.

He was quiet, generous and a soft-spoken soul. He had a very sensitive heart and reached out to all he knew, even at the cost of his health.

About 85 priests concelebrated the funeral mass at Nagpur’s SFS Cathedral and presided over by three bishops, Archbishop Abraham, Bishop Sylvester Monteiro, and Bishop Joe Rosario, all had much to say about him.

But the words of Archbishop Abraham beautifully summed up Fr Bonnie’s eventful life. “I have lost a good, humble, devout and dedicated priest”.

Fr Boniface Mendes was born at Parra, Goa to Cosme Augustine and Christalina Mendes on August 17, 1934. He did his matriculation at Nagpur and later began his priestly studied at St Charles Seminary, Nagpur. He did well in his studies which he continued at St Joseph’s Seminary, Nagpur.

His rector Fr Rocca SJ described him as being, “a very good and clever student, obedient, open and sincere with a sense of duty”. He was ordained priest by Archbishop Eugene D’Souza at the SFS Cathedral Nagpur.

His first posting was at Mansar in the Archdiocese of Nagpur. He rebuilt the dilapidated church and also set up a residential complex.

Fr Bonnie was appointed as the Director of Social Work at Nagpur in March 1970. He was later appointed as the animator of the Charismatic Renewal from October 31, 1974, till February 1, 1981.

He was warm, brother, helpful and a guide to all involved in social, charitable and orphanage institutions int the diocese. After doing a one year course at the Coady Institution of St Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Canada in social sciences, in 1973-74, he was put in-charge of St Martin’s Farm, Geripatka in Buti-Bori, Thane.

He found it a strain to cope with five responsibilities simultaneously and it was here that he suffered first heat attack. After he recovered, he was posted at Umrer as parish priest of Assisi Church. Later he tirelessly took up permanent repair work of dilapidated novitiate as a novice master.

Fr Bonnie suffered much in silence due to his weak heart and amoebiasis which troubled him frequently. When advised rest by his elder brother, he replied, “I would like to go with my boots on”.

His dying words to Bishop Sylvester and Fr John Monteiro, who reached his deathbed at Dr. Naidu’s Hospital were “I am going home. I would like to go with my boots on”. Fr Bonnie died at 1.45am on December 19.

Fr Bonnie, the model priest, and our brother is gone but he will never be forgotten.