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Goa Sudharop ******************************************************************************** REMINENCES OF LATE FR.CONCEICAO RODRIGUES & HIS CONTRIBUTION TO GOANS By Edna D'Souza Fr. Conceicao Menino Rodrigues, was born on 27th March 1912 at Betalbatim in South Goa. He joined the Rachol Seminary and became a diocesan priest. During the exposition of the relics (1931) of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa, he and his companions were inspired to start a new Society, with St. Francis Xavier as their patron, (Foreign Religious Societies has been suppressed by the Government of Goa from 1835). The salient features that would make it different from the diocesan priesthood would be: to live in community, under a Superior, according to a written Constitution to spread the message of salvation in India through the sons of India. The approval was granted, and the society of St. Francis Xavier (sfx) was established at Pilar. It is commonly called Pilar Society, since 1939. Influenced by the struggle for Independence in British India, Fr. Conceicao wanted Goa also to be free of Portuguese Rule. This was dangerous ground to tread, as the Church in Goa, sided with the Government. He was reprimanded for his freedom of expression and fearing further reprisals, he left Goa, and went to Bombay in the early fifties. He took up residence in Bandra where he saw many children in the streets, instead of in the school. His concern led him to gather them in one place and try and teach them. He soon realized however, that they could not cope with formal education and tried teaching them various skills which they were quick to pick up. He therefore, started short term vocational courses like - mechanical course, fitter's course, carpentry course, and also started a shelter to keep them off the streets. The people of the neighbourhood, seeing his good work, donated land and money near the Bandstand, in Bandra, and Agnel Ashram was founded on the 9th June 1957 in Bombay (Mumbai). Later other branches were opened. In other parts of Bombay and India, requests and donations kept pouring in. In the 1970's Goa also made a request or such courses and large tracts of land on the slopes of a hill in Verna, were donated for the purpose. It was a challenge for Fr. Conceicao and his assistants to level the ground and plan the projects, Being a visionary he took it in his stride, making a blue print of the short term and long term projects, that could be undertaken to fill up this vast land. The Agnel Polytechnic was founded in 1980 alongside the residence of the fathers, offering Production, Automobile and Construction Engineering. Agnel Industrial Training Institute was also started in 1980, which was affiliated to the National Council for Vocational training in New Delhi. An orphanage of Balgram was started in 1981, and the laying of the foundation stoned was done by the then President of India - Shri Giani Zail Singh. In 1986, for the silver jubilee celebrations, a citation was awarded posthumously to Fr. Conceicao, by the Government of Goa, Daman & Diu. Along with the Balgram, there was started a small clinic, a tailoring shop, and a primary school. The High School was started in 1984. However Fr. Conceicao was not satisfied with these achievements. He wanted the Vocational Education to be recognized on par with Academic Qualifications, and strove hard to get recognition for a Degree course in Engineering, by the University. This he finally achieved, but the joy and relief were so great, hat he got a massive heart attack, and expired in June of the same year, 1984. Today in Goa there is a Padre Conceicao College of Engineering founded in 1997 at Verna, approved by the Government of Goa, affiliated to the Goa University and recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education. There are undergraduate, graduate and post graduate course offered. There are also short term courses in different skills and trades which help thousands of students get education, develop skills and be a assured of a future without any discrimination of caste, creed, or I.Q. The Balgram too, was expanded to 22 cottages, which house about 200 children. Most of the projects on the blue print have seen completion. Fr. Conceicao's vision, therefore, for the less fortunate goes for spreading, thanks to those who remain faithful to his mission of taking the message of the "Good News" to all Indians, through the "sons of India" via Agnel Technical Education Complexes. Credit must also be given to the nephews of Fr. Conceicao, both of them Senior Citizens. Fr. Orlando Rodrigues, who is Director in Bombay (Mumbai) and Fr. Peter Martin Rodrigues, who is the Director of Verna, Goa and all those who assist them in running these huge complexes, which surely have the blessings of Goa. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
