Fr Joe Saldanha SJ passes away

Mangalore Today News Network

Fr Joseph Saldanha SJ, a doyen amongst educationists within the Jesuit community succumbed to liver cancer on 12th March 2010 at Vinalaya in Mumbai. He was 69. He celebrated 50 years as a Jesuit on 20th June 2007 and would have completed 40 years as an ordained priest on 14th March 2010. Born on 7th December 1940 in Kirkee near Pune to Rozario Saldanha and Natalie Patrao, he was the youngest of six children. His work in the field of education took him not only to various small towns and cities across India but also to all the continents.

Fr. Joe’s concern extended in a special way to poor and orphan children whom he always helped.One thing that particularly striking about Fr Joe was that despite being a dedicated Roman Catholic priest with unshakeable faith and commitment to the Church he was a truly secular man. He truly believed in the brotherhood of man and rose above religious divides. Consequently, he could count amongst his friends and well wishers people from all communities and faiths.