Rev. Fr. Melito Dias Celebrates Sixty Sparkling years as a Priest by Michael Ali Rev. Fr. Melito Dias was born in Karachi on February 27, 1927 to Maria Amata and Joseph Edward Dias, the fifth among nine children. From an early age his mother had a great influence on his religious upbringing as she was very close to the church and Catholic teachings. His dad worked abroad…for the UK-based Cable and Wireless Company in Bahrain. Fr. Melito was educated at St. Patrick’s High School in Karachi and was a keen sportsman --and a star of the Hockey team! In fact, his wizardry with the ball and brilliant stick-work made short work of many an opposing team. He played on well after school and seminary days. >From his school days, Fr. Melito was a regular church-goer, never missing the first Mass on a daily basis. In fact, on his way to Mass from his residence in Duarte Square on Napier Street, Saddar he would be accompanied by another lad from Bicajee Street. The boys attended Mass together….that lad was a brother of the late Fr. Joe D’Mello. In 1946, Fr. Melito left for the Papal Seminary at Kandy in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as this part of the world did not have its own seminary at that time. The rail journey, his first outside Karachi, was long and tiring but the zeal of the young man to serve his Creator increased with every mile covered. In Kandy, Father not only proved to be a good student but also won the hearts of his teachers and fellow students by his dedication to studies and sports. He was ordained on August 24, 1954 at Kandy by His Excellency, Bishop Glennie, an American Jesuit who later became the Bishop of Trincomalee, Ceylon. His parents and family traveled to Kandy for his ordination and his father and a cousin served as altar servers for his first Mass. He returned to Karachi which by then was part of a new nation – Pakistan! He came back without a Passport as he had left when all areas of the sub-continent were part of India. His first posting was at the Minor Seminary at Quetta where Rev. Fr. Joseph Cordeiro was the Rector and was also assigned to St. Francis’ Grammar School where he coached the boys in hockey. He then went on to serve the people of Karachi in various parishes. He also served the parish of St. Joseph’s, Larkana and was instrumental in the faith formation of many in the area. Besides his priestly duties, Fr. Melito is also a fine educationalist and has served many Catholic schools in Karachi such as St. Patrick’s, St. Paul’s and St. Lawrence’s in various capacities. He is also a regular contributor to the Christian Voice. Needless to say he carried out all his duties with distinction and is known for his kindness, compassion and understanding. Among his students have been three Bishops (Their Lordships, Max Rodrigues, Anthony Lobo and Rufin Anthony). I first met him as a student of Class VII, when he was the Prefect of Discipline at St. Patrick’s High School in 1963 and was also in-charge of the St. Patrick’s Scout Troop of which I was a member. I remember him to be a very friendly, humble person with a great sense of subtle humor. A classmate described him at the time as ‘a jewel of a gentleman’. This description can still describe him today. On August 24, 2014, Rev. Fr. Melito Dias celebrates his Sacerdotal Diamond Jubilee joining a handful of priests who have done so. On behalf of the faithful especially his parishioners let me take this opportunity to congratulate him on this milestone and wish him many, many more years in the service of the Lord. Ad multos annos, gloriosque annos vivas!