Moreno de Souza

Father Moreno de Souza (Konkani: Padre Moren) (3 November 1923 – 14 October 2007) was a Goan Jesuit priest. He was also a famous Konkani Marian poet, Konkani writer, translator and a historian. He was one of the translators of the Povitr Pustok (the Holy Bible) in Romi Konkani.^[1]

Early life

Born at his maternal house in Pilerne, Goa on 3 November 1923 to Maria Magdalena and Jeronimo de Souza, Fr. Moreno spent his early life in Marna and then Pilerne where he studied. He was born in a priestly family, with two of is maternal uncles, Pe. Leles de Souza and Pe. Cirilo de Souza diocesan priests in Goa. He was a very hard working and obidient child. He studied at the Institute Mater Dei in Saligão, Goa. Being persuaded by Monsignor Ayres Fernandes from Siolim to write in his own mother tongue, Moreno, as a boy, began writing in Konkani.^[2]

Call to be a priest

With the Lord's inspiration and on the advice of his matenal uncle Padre Leles de Souza, Fr. Moreno de Souza decided to become a priest and join the Jesuit order. As confessed later, Fr. Moreno had not even heard of the Jesuits then, but his maternal uncle Padre Leles, a diocesan priest and an acclaimed music conductor was impressed with the congregation. He enterd the Jesuits on 8 November 1944.^[3]

Fr. Moreno studied for the priesthood and was ordained in Granada, Spain on 15 July 1958.^[4] As his beloved mother and family was not present for his Ordination, he had Spanish God parents. He loved the local people, who treated him with love. He was given the name Cosmus, but he continued with the name Moreno. He took his last vows on 22 April 1978.^[5] He completed more than 50 years of priesthood at his death.

Dor Mhoineachi Rotti

This Konkani monthly magazine, started in 1915 in Karachi by Padre Vincent Lobo, from Sangolda and is dedicated to spread the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,^[6] was shifted to Bombay around 1960. In 1964, Fr. Moreno was given charge of it and he moved into the then almost deserted, desolate Velha Goa in 1964. He nourished it with his love and care and edited it for around 42 years till mid-2006. Besides he was the first person to use the term Old Goa, for Velha Goa, when he printed Old Goa as the address for the monthly in the 1960s. It led to problems in the mail services, as letters were being returned, as the postal officials did not realise it referred to Velha Goa in English. Velha Goa is the Portuguese name, which was used for more than a century. In his later years he said that he now prefers the Konkani names Adlem Gõy or Pornnem Gõi to Old Goa. Konkani was very dear to his heart.

As a priest and writer

Beisdes travelling to Bombay, Shembaganur (Tamil Nadu), Belgaum, Granada, Salamanca as a seminarian and priest, Fr. Moreno was posted at various places in Goa. Some include Bicholim, Carambolim and Alto Porvorim, besides Velha Goa. The people loved him as could be seen at his funeral. He worked dynamically in Our Lady of Grace Parish and School, Bicholim and worked among all people, besides working in other areas too.

Fr. Moreno wrote many hymns, books and articles, besides poetries. Many were Marian based. He loved the Our Lady, and was saved from near death in 1972 from a sickness with Her intercession. One of his first books was Nixkollonk Gorb Sombhovlelê on the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. He wrote books on the history of the Churches of Goa, in parts. They include Tisvaddcheo Igorzo,^[7] Bardescheo Igorzo,^[8] Saxtticheo Igorzo- Poilo Khonnd^[9] and Saxtticheo Igorzo- Dusro Khondd.^[10] The latter was his final book, released in Cavelossim, just a month before his death.

Fr. Moreno contributed to many Konakni periodicals. After seeing the Adivasis in Ranchi composing hymns in their mother tongue, he was inspired to compose hymns in his mother tongue Konkani. His two maternal uncles were musicians, which made him take up to composing hymns, poetries and songs easily. After being ordained Fr. Moreno wrote articles for the Salesian Konkani weekly Aitarachem Vachop, Udentechem Neketr, a Konkani weekly from Bombay and Vauraddeancho Ixtt, a weekly still run from Pilar by the Society of Saint Francis Xavier, Pilar.^[11]

Fr. Moreno also translated a part of the holy Bible. He was a member of the Povitr Pustokachea Vavrachi Somiti (PPVS),^[12] which was a committee formed by the Archdiocese of Goa e Damão, for the translation of the bible. He translated Barukachem Pustok (the Book of Baruch) besides some others books.

Despite loving his mother tongue Konkani, and not being afraid and ashamed to speak and write in it, father Moreno was a linguist and knew around 10 languages. He learned Latin, Portuguese, Tamil, French, Greek, English, Castilian, Catalonian, Marathi, Hindi et cetera besides knowing his mother tongue Konkani.

Death and Funeral

After lying in hospital for around 10 days, Fr. Moreno died and was brought to the Jesuit Borea Jezuchi Basilika (Basilica de Bom Jesus) in Velha Goa. His funeral mass was concelebrated by numerous priests from the Jesuit community, diocesan priests and others. In the absence of the Archbishop of Goa e Damão Dom Filipe Neri Ferrão, who had visited Fr. Moreno a few days earlier in hospital, the main celebrant was the Archbishop Emeritus of Goa e Damão, Dom Raul Nicolau Gonsalves. His body is buried in the kopelmar of the Cathedral cemetery in Velha Goa.

References

External links

• http://www.goajesuits.in/events/20071014morenodesouza.htm