FR. DOMINIC HENRIQUES, SJ

Probably Fr. Dominic lived a saying of Cardinal Newman, that pain is inevitable. He would remind me of this quote many a time. That could be the reason why he did not complain much or rather so easily about his pain. He lived with his pain, maybe he tried to befriend his pain.

On Tuesday before Ash Wednesday he sang with the community till as late as 10.30 p.m. He even remembered very old songs of his favourite hits. He was a good singer and even at the age of 91 his voice was clear and sharp. He gave no inkling that it would be his last joyful night. But on Tuesday in some context he had said to me, who has seen tomorrow. I did not take the remark seriously. But that was the first time he said to me such a thing since several months of his illness.

On Ash Wednesday he was watching Cricket match, but I did not find him very coherent in his speech. So we had tea together and during the course of our chat he had told me that he had not settled his accounts. So I told him jokingly that St. Peter would settle his accounts. He did not take the comment well. At five p.m. I found him breathing heavily; so I gave him his usual tablets. Little before evening Mass on Ash Wednesday he was talking about as to how to participate in the Mass. He had forgotten that he had received holy communion and received the ashes in the morning.

On Wednesday, 17th, he joined us for supper. He was breathing heavily and had difficulty finishing his supper. But he joined us to watch the night news. He suddenly felt very uneasy. At supper I had given him his dose of tablets. So now we tried to give him massage. He was feeling more and more breathless. Then we decided to take him to the Cardinal Gracias hospital. He agreed willingly. On other occasions he would react strongly to going to a hospital. The hospital is not too far away. Four members of our community were with him. But on the way he said to Fr. Andrew Rodrigues, I think I am dying. He breathed his last before reaching the hospital.  He expired a little before 10 p.m. He had sang joyfully just 24 hours before. A wonderful death!

Fr. Dominic had a long inning. His first appointment as a priest was at Manickpur. He served 10 years at St. Xavier’s, Manickpur and another 10 years at St. Xavier’s, Manmad. All his life he worked in the districts in far out places like Dhule, Shirpur, Manmad, Manor and Vasai. He was an educationist and also a pastor. He was the first treasurer and Chancellor of newly formed diocese of Nashik.

Fr. Dominic was basically a shy and scrupulous man. Whenever he stayed at his sister’s place in Chembur, he would not allow his sister to walk along with him while going to the Church. She had to walk either behind him or ahead of him. Even at the age of 90 he was worried about his one hour fast before Mass or before receiving communion. So at times his Mass was delayed because he wasn’t quite sure about his fast. He was over careful about his accounts and would spend hours tallying his last paisa.

Fr. Dominic had joined the Society on 5th Nov. 1940 at Hazaribagh but took his first vows at Vinayalaya in 1942. He spent his 56 years of priestly life serving various types of people, Dalit, Adivasi and urban Christians. Since 1997 he was on the staff of Manikpur Jesuit community and was always available for confessions. He was a man of discipline, and a man of few words. He enjoyed human company but would not easily go out to meet people. His past students remember his gentleness and firmness too.

He would express his disfavour in many aspects of life but his innocence was evident in his words. I found him too simple at times. 

He was available for any ministry. He was born and brought up in Bandra. But he wanted to be a simple Jesuit. And he did it! He was very shy of a grand celebration his only surviving sister, Myrtle, and his nephews and nieces wanted to have on his 90th birthday. We did not want to take him to Bandra against his wish.

He went to the Lord on Ash Wednesday to celebrate the Eternal Easter. May his inspiration live with us for a long time.

Fr. Joe Pithekar, SJ