TRIBUTE: Fr Olavo -- a wonderful priest, friend and guide By Melvyn Misquita [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Journalist Melvyn S. Misquita, assistant chief of news bureau of the Herald, pays tribute to a priest who served as the public face of the Church, till his untimely death from cancer last month. This article was earlier published in the 'Renewal' AN ATTEMPT to chronicle experiences shared with a special person who has recently left this world tends to be both painful and rewarding. Painful, because of the sheer emotions that overwhelm the person who decides to pen down special moments of his dear friend who is no more, but rewarding, because of the numerous wonderful memories associated with his friend. This seems to sum up my situation, as I begin to recall precious moments of my interaction with Fr Olavo Velho Pereira, of the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM), who passed away on December 22. The first clue that Fr Olavo was to join as the DCSCM director came during my interaction with his predecessor and then DSCSM head Fr Carmo Martins. Despite being the parish priest at the Taleigao church, Fr Martins made every effort to discharge his additional duties as the DCSCM incharge. But given the growing influence of mass media in Goa, the need for a full-fledged director was rightfully echoed during the Goa Diocesan Synod 2002. And as with many recommendations during the Synod, this suggestion too was taken into consideration by Church authorities a short while later. When I called on Fr Martins sometime after the Synod, he dropped a hint by indicating that the DCSCM would be getting a full-fledged director shortly. My curiosity was aroused, but Fr Martins politely declined to divulge the identity of his successor, claiming that he was unaware of the candidate. The announcement of Fr Olavo as the DCSCM Director was to come a short while later. And while I was happy to be in contact with Fr Martins on issues pertaining to the archdiocese, I was also pleased with the appointment of Fr Olavo for a number of reasons. First, I had interacted with Fr Olavo as then director of the Diocesan Youth Centre, and as such, I would not be a new face to him in his new role. Then, I knew he was a talented artist, musician, orator and enjoyed a good rapport with priests and people from all walks of life. Perfect qualities for a person heading the social communications mass media centre. And so, I wasted no time in wishing Fr Olavo on his new appointment. While reminding him of my keen interest in matters pertaining to the archdiocese, I assured Fr Olavo of all possible assistence from my end. >From that day onwards till December 18 -- the last conversation I was to have with Fr Olavo -- I would frequently interact with him. As such, his mobile number 9822177099 was one of the most common numbers that I dialled, both during work and at home. Fr Olavo may have been over 20 years my senior, but this difference was virtually non-existent when we regularly discussed issues pertaining to the archdiocese and the media. I would call on him to discuss events and activities pertaining to the archdiocese, while he would call me up either to inform me that a Church press note has been dispatched to my newspaper or if he needed some advice in drafting a news item. And these interactions made me a frequent visitor to the DCSCM office at the Bishop's House in Altinho-Panjim. Realising the need to acquaint himself with other members of the media, the first project Fr Olavo undertook was to organise a seminar for media persons at Don Bosco in Panjim. With the assistance of his DCSCM team, Fr Olavo meticulously drew up a list of media persons and went about in a systematic manner, thereby ensuring maximum participation at the seminar. During the seminar, Fr Olavo was open to various queries raised by the journalists and assured that he would be accessible to them in providing information on matters pertaining to the Church. True to his promise, he always made himself available to me -- right from 8 am to 11.30 pm -- whenever a comment from the church was needed, or if a news item sent by him needed further details. He was quick to understand the requirements of newspapers and would always oblige me with the details, along with his customary, "Melvyn, feel free to call me up anytime if you need any other details," at the end of his conversation. The seminar helped Fr Olavo shortlist those journalists who volunteered to be of constant assistance to the DCSCM. I was happy to be figure in this list of journalists, with whom Fr Olavo would interact closely and frequently. His ability to be open to suggestions and to immediately act on them was evident to me, with the launch of the revised edition of 'Renovacao'. I was aware that the official church magazine was primarily being read by the clergy. Eager to attract more readers from the laity, I listed out some suggestions, which included the need for a new look to the 'Renovacao' and a revised layout. Both Fr Olavo and 'Renovacao' editor Fr Francisco Caldeira were enthused with the idea of revamping 'Renovacao' to make it suitable to the present Catholic community, especially since this had been a recommendation of the Diocesan Synod. Fr Olavo immediately invited Fr Caldeira, myself and a few priests to a meeting to discuss the possibility of a revised layout and content to the 'Renovacao'. Fr Olavo then introduced a new cover design and added other interesting features to the Renovacao. The results were both impressive and encouraging. The new 'Renovacao' was appreciated by a large number of readers. On a number of occasions, Fr Olavo would dispel my doubts regarding the restriction in access to information by officials in the Church of Goa. To cite one such instance, I was always given the impression that Archbishop-Emeritus Raul Gonsalves was reluctant to grant interviews to the press. And when Archbishop Gonsalves returned from his ad limina -- Fr Olavo had taken great pains to explain this Latin term to me -- to the Holy See in 2003, I was not sure whether Archbishop Gonsalves would grant me an interview for my newspaper. "Melvyn, you'll be surprised to know that he (Archbishop Gonsalves) is quite open to queries from the press. I'm sure he'll grant you the interview," stated a confident Fr Olavo. And as Fr Olavo had predicted, Archbishop Gonsalves was to grant me not one, but two interviews -- the first regarding his interaction with Holy Father Pope John Paul II and the second, on completion of his long and fruitful term as head of the Catholic church in Goa. Despite his responsibilities in other Church bodies, Fr Olavo never ignored his duties as the DCSCM director. I would often find my portly priest friend rushing from one place to another in the equally bulky Mahindra jeep with various tasks at hand. And yet, Fr Olavo would never hesitate to attend to my need for a comment on some issue or the other. For instance, when I needed details on the tragic demise of Fr Freddy D'Costa in Karnataka, Fr Olavo managed to collect all the relevant details to enable me with my report. Fr Olavo took special pains to facilitate media coverage of major events in the archdiocese, such as a special programme at Old Goa to mark the beatification of Mother Theresa (November 2003), the appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Neri Ferro as Archbishop-Patriarch (January 2004) and the installation of Archbishop Ferrao as well as a thanksgiving service to the outgoing Archbishop Gonsalves (March 2004). I distinctly recall the excitement and speculation surrounding the appointment of the new Archbishop-Patriarch for the archdiocese. Right from December 2003, I would constantly call on Fr Olavo, eager to extract from him any detail regarding the identity of the new archbishop. Fr Olavo would often laugh at my one-point query and would leave me in suspense with the assurance, "Don't worry. As soon as I get the information, I'll pass it on to you." This went on till mid-January and though I suspected that Fr Olavo had an idea of the identity of Archbishop Gonsalves' successor, he always maintained stoic silence. Like a true journalist, he would keep the matter strictly confidential. Even on the day the appointment was made public, Fr Olavo called me up in the morning to convey the good news that the appointment had been made. "So father, is it our Auxiliary Bishop Felip Neri Ferrao?" I asked Fr Olavo, hoping to catch him off-guard into revealing the identity of the new archbishop. It was still a futile move, as Fr Olavo simply laughed it out saying, "We'll all know this by 4.30 pm this evening." Somehow, I was convinced that he was aware of the decision, but Fr Olavo refused to allow friendship override his commitment to secrecy. The news that Fr Olavo was struck with a life-threatening illness was conveyed to me in August, while I was on a two-week vacation. When I called on Fr Olavo to enquire about his health sometime later, he played down his illness. He seemed more eager in preparations for the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, which was to be his last major project at the DCSCM. Fr Olavo invited me to be a member in the publicity committee and our first major task was to launch the official website for the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. Given my interest in information technology, I readily agreed to assist in this task. Despite his illness, Fr Olavo made it a point to meet me at the Goacom office in Panjim. Too weak to drive a vehicle, he would be accompanied by Exposition Convenor Fr George Aguiar, as the three of us along with Newton of Goacom worked overtime to design the archdiocese website within a few days. The website was launched by Archbishop Ferrao on September 8, 2004. While undergoing treatment, Fr Olavo was being looked after by nuns in a convent at Old Goa and by November, the DCSCM office had been temporarily shifted to Old Goa at the site adjacent to the pandal. Even though Fr Olavo was unable to visit the DCSCM office on a daily basis, he was in constant touch with his staff, Sr Celine and Rumald. Fr Olavo's final press conference took place a few days prior to the inauguration of the Exposition. I was seeing him after a gap of almost two months and the changes in his physical appearance were noticeable. Fr Olavo was quick to joke about the loss of his hair. "I now look like Yul Brynner," he told a journalist, who had enquired about his health. His generous waistline had receded and despite the far menacing internal changes that were threatening his existence, Fr Olavo bravely and professionally conducted the press conference, answering all queries raised by the reporters. That was the last time I would meet Fr Olavo face to face. I did however see Fr Olavo on November 21, but this was on television as he was being interviewed on a television channel during the inaugural ceremony of the Exposition. Aware that he was in need of complete rest, I briefly spoke to him four times over the next 30 days, largely pertaining to the news updates on the diocesan website. As always, he was enthusiastic and dedicated in discharging duties as DCSCM head. My last conversation with Fr Olavo was to take place on December 18, when I called on him in connection with the joint press note of the Diocesan Commission for Social Action and the Diocesan Society for Education, which was issued to denounce the controversial documentary on Goa's Liberation. Later, to my query on the condition of his health, Fr Olavo admitted that his health had deteriorated over the past few days. "But I hope to get better soon," were his last words before we greeted each other with the customary "Goodnight". I woke up on the morning of December 23, a special day for my wife and I, as we were celebrating our fourth wedding anniversary. My joyous mood was shattered barely moments later, when my wife broke the news of Fr Olavo's death on December 22, which was reported in the newspapers. I must have read the report numerous times and yet, I simply couldn't accept the fact that Fr Olavo was no more. Equally painful was the realisation that I couldn't attend the funeral later in the day, as I had to attend a crucial choir practice with catechism children at Porvorim, in preparation of their tableau before the midnight mass. I could barely focus on the practice, but I reassured myself that I had made the right decision to be with the children, who were in need of the practice. Somehow, I feel Fr Olavo, himself a gifted musician, would also have wanted me to be with the young singers during that crucial hour. Over the past two-and-half years, I have had the privilege of close discussions with Fr Olavo on a number of issues pertaining to the DCSCM and ways to improve the centre. On a few occasions, he did admit to me that his responsibilities in other church bodies had deprived him the chance of offering his wholehearted services to the DCSCM. But at the same time, he always accepted the additional tasks with a cheerful smile and a positive attitude. But more than the professional manner in which he discharged his role as the DCSCM director, I began to admire in Fr Olavo a person of exceptional inner strength and positive outlook, who used his talents to the maximum and who enjoyed excellent rapport with fellow priests, nuns and laity. Meetings over the past two-and-half years may seem short a period to appreciate a person. But in Fr Olavo's case, it was long enough for me to realise that I was in the midst of a truely wonderful priest, friend and guide. And I thank God for this special gift. [The writer can be contacted on phone +91-9422064707 or via email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOANET-READER WELCOMES contributions from its readers, by way of essays, reviews, features and think-pieces. We share quality Goa-related writing among the 7000-strong readership of the Goanet/Goanet-news network of mailing lists. 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