Fr. John Correia-Afonso SJ
1924 - 2005

Fr. John Correia-Afonso SJ, a former Principal of St. Xavier's College passed away at the Jesuit Nursing Home, Vinayalaya, Andheri. He was 81, and had been suffering for the last few years from Parkinson's Disease.

John came from an illustrious family - his father Francis Correia-Afonso was a distinguished professor at St. Xavier's College in the 40s; his elder brother Roque Parmananda Divarkar also a Jesuit, was a well-known philosopher and spiritual guide; and his first cousin Charles Correia is the famous architect - and during his lifetime held several important offices both locally and abroad. He was professor of history at St. Xavier's College and later the director of the Heras Institute; twice Principal of the College; Provincial of Bombay; and Secretary of the Jesuit Society in Rome. His books, The Soul of Modern India, Letters from the Mughal Court and The Jesuits in India were popular studies in the history of the Jesuit Society in India, and he both attended and organized several important historical conferences.

In spite of the many high offices he held, John remained essentially a very friendly person, well-beloved by both students, parents and teaching staff, and was probably the best known Jesuit in Bombay during his active life. During the last few years his health grew progressively worse as the result of Parkinson's, and he passed away peacefully during the night of November 7, 2005.