Fr. Henry Pascual Oiz
(PAT/BOM) 86/66
Died in Patna on 15 April 2006

Biodata:
Born: 3 Sept. 1919, in Barcelona, Spain
Entered: 13 Oct. 1939, in Veruela, Spain
Came to India: 1948
Ordained: 24 March 1954, in Pune

Henry Pascual was a small man with a big heart and a keen mind. His early life was spent amid the turmoil of the Spanish civil war, but for part of his childhood, he went with his family to Cuba. During the years of his formation as a Jesuit, he had ample opportunity to learn languages, a skill, which he used in later life in translating and writing. He translated several classics of Jesuit spirituality, and he wrote some original books in Spanish and English. He will be gratefully remembered by his Patna brothers for his history of Patna Province, Blessed by the Lord. This work had been assigned to two other Jesuits before him, but only Henry had the perseverance to see it through to completion. The book is notable for the analysis and synthesis that Henry effectively brought to the wide and varied developments of the Patna Province.

His early training was done in Spain, but when he came to India he completed his studies in Pune and was ordained there. His own brother became a Jesuit Brother, and also served in Bombay Province. The first part of Henry's priestly ministry involved teaching in the Bombay and Allahabad seminaries, and in the Jesuit novitiate at Vinayalaya, Bombay. For a few years he taught in the schools also: St. Mary's and St. Stanislaus' in Bombay, and Campion in Bhopal. Then he volunteered for pastoral ministry in Patna Province, and served first in Chuhari (1981-84), and then in Ara (1985-2000). He took great interest in the ordinary people in the neighborhood, and on his evening walks would meet and greet them.

When ill health forced him to retire, he settled in XTTI. But he continued his writing and research even there. Though he never complained, his greatest cross must have been the failure of his eyesight and hearing. Because of this, he lived in a world of his own, and had difficulty in recognizing old friends who would visit him. He remained cheerful and resigned to these infirmities. A fall resulted in a fractured hip, for which he required surgery. His close friend, John D'Mello, saw him through this trial. John had been a novice in Bombay when Henry was socius to the novice master there. Now Henry has joined our "Band of Brothers" in the Lord's kingdom, a place that he richly deserves. It was surely a great grace for Henry to die on Easter eve at 8.30 p.m., and he was able to share fully in the eternal life of the Lord.

His funeral will be on Easter Monday morning at XTTI. All the members of Patna Province should offer one Mass for the repose of his soul, and members of XTTI community two Masses.