MR CAETANO FERNADES ………….LEFT HIS FOOTPRINTS I had the pleasure of associating with Mr Caetano, as the Headmaster of Immaculate Conception high School Avedem Paraoda for a period of 6 years. It was strange that the school was shouldered with the responsibility of celebrating the feast of the Village Chapel adjustant to the School. I realized that the school had to make all the arrangements for seating, priest, services band , preacher, in the evening. it meant that I had to stay from morning till late evening after all the benches were shifted for the next day class., Many of the benches were also damaged, The locals only participated in religious ceremonies as guests. The raising of financial resources were burden to the teaching community of the school. The contributions from Locals were not guaranteed or dependable. There was a fete in the morning to raise the resources to some extent and once again patronized mostly by school students .The balance in the Chapel account of the all previous year was shockingly in single digit. The daily collections were the right of the Parish Priest and not ploughed into arrangements .Refreshment for the celebrant were also school duty. It was an unprecedented arrangement not seen by me in as many schools I had headed That year the saving was Rs 6000= mostly coming from the staff members. Chairs were provided for seating but that increased the cost many folds, but saved the damage to the furniture of the school and daily shifting. I called a meeting of Village elders soon after the feast and explained that it was undesirable burden on school to celebrate, make arrangement and take financial responsibility .That in future the school can at most can assist in arrangement along with locals. The second year I dissociated and Manager with the SSC student made a mesh of the event and was forced to abandoned, The locals saw an opportunity to enter, took complete charge and collected a balance of Rs 14000= under the leadership of Caetano in the very first year. They purchased furniture for safekeeping of the religious articles., Mr Caetano approached us regarding relinquishing a room adjacent to the chapel .He agreed and obliged by constructing of new room first to shift,. It was Mr Caetano who spearheaded the movement to construct a new chapel .He was the first magnanimous donor, drew the plans and started the work with expectations and hope of receiving aid, He raised financial resources through donations ,celebrations under great strain, supported by his family and close relatives. A magnificent Chapel became a reality soon and much needed place of devotion and faith that galvanized the villagers,. There after the feast was celebrated with great pomp and faith by the people and villages surrounding it. Thus far It was a single decision of Villagers involvement to celebrate the feast that led initiatives to construct the magnificent chapel. Villagers trusted his leadership, dynamism, honesty , generosity, determination, abilities to mobilize funds from far and wide ,sell a dream to villagers. He is a simple well meaning individual, whose contribution to construct the Chapel will always remain unquestionable praise worthy effort .The religious structure is the best monument to his lasting memory and none can deny this credit of his toil and labour of love , devotion, faith and determination to overcome all obstacles Toward s recent past he expressed disappointment and saddens that the Church pressurized the Committee to transfer all the funds in deposit to the Church and threatened Eucharistic celebration of festive occasion. I have no idea what was the final outcome of this outlandish demand, if it is true. There are no substantiated charges of mismanagement, fraud, lack of trust in Caetano and team by the people in his leadership. The Church has had no role of financial support, when the committee was struggling in its construction It is not a good precedent to take hold of finances under the guise of Church authority, where they could exercise watchdog role, if it was necessary The family of Caetano and Mrs Angelina Collaco and family have erected a niche in honour of the OUR LADY OF LOURDES in the school premises, a Christian sign so essential of a catholic identity The funded the expenditure over 20,000= The family of Caetano also made provision of fund to provide refreshment to the students The demise of Mr Caetano, popularly known as AARAB due to his physical gait hailed from Zerlabhat Avedem Paroda. He was born on 5-2-1944 and breathed his last on 3-3- 2018, he was interred in the presence of large gathering of grateful mourners on 5-3-2018. His health took many turns for the worst, but he did not give due medical attention that was perhaps needed. Obituaries from Association of Parado, Mumbai and large friends of Zerla Bhat quoting “ Your actions were always kind. Agenerous hand and active mind. Anxious to please and loath to offend a loving brother and faithful friend. We`ll all miss you very much” He is survived by his wife Maria Magdalena, daughters Anita, Suzan, Goretti, Santano and their families I will miss a valuable, understanding friend, who always maintained warm relations and regards ever since Nelson Lopes Past headmaster ICH school ,Avedem Paroda [image: Image may contain: house, sky, tree and outdoor] <https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1697229300339335&set=pcb.1697233680338897&type=3> <https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1697232997005632&set=pcb.1697233680338897&type=3>