Moreno de Souza
Encyclopedia
Father Moreno de Souza (3 November 1923, Pilerne
, Goa
- 14 October 2007, Alto de Porvorim, Socorro
, Goa
) was a Goan Jesuit priest. He was also a famous Konkani Marian
poet, Konkani writer, translator and a historian. He was one of the translators of the Povitr Pustok (the Holy Bible
in Romi (Roman) Konkani).
and then Pilerne
where he studied. He was born in a priestly family, with two of is maternal uncles, Pe. Leles de Souza and Pe. Cirilo de Souza diocesan priests in Goa
. He was a very hard working and obidient child. He studied at the Institute Mater Dei in Saligão
, Goa
. Being persuaded by Monsignor Ayres Fernandes from Siolim
to write in his own mother tongue, Moreno, as a boy, began writing in Konkani
.
Fr. Moreno studied for the priesthood and was ordained in Granada
, Spain
on the 15th July, 1958. As his beloved mother and family was not present for his Ordination
, he had Spanish God parents. He loved the local people, who treated him with love. He was given the name Cosmus, but he continued with the name Moreno. He took his last vows on 22 April 1978. He completed more than 50 years of priesthood at his death.
Besides he was the first person to use the term Old Goa
, for Velha Goa, when he printed Old Goa as the address for the monthly in the 1960s. It led to problems in the mail services, as letters were being returned, as the postal officials did not realise it referred to Velha Goa in English. Velha Goa is the Portuguese name, which was used for more than a century. In his later years he said that he now prefers the Konkani names Adlem Gõy or Pornnem Gõi to Old Goa. Konkani was very dear to his heart.
, Granada
, Salamanca
as a seminarian and priest, Fr. Moreno was posted at various places in Goa. Some include Bicholim
, Carambolim and Alto Porvorim, besides Velha Goa. The people loved him as could be seen at his funeral. He worked dynamically in Our Lady of Grace Parish and School, Bicholim and worked among all people, besides working in other areas too.
Fr. Moreno wrote many hymns, books and articles, besides poetries. Many were Marian based. He loved the Our Lady, and was saved from near death in 1972 from a sickness with Her intercession.
One of his first books was Nixkollonk Gorb Sombhovlelê on the Immaculate Conception
of Our Lady. He wrote books on the history of the Churches of Goa, in parts. They include Tisvaddcheo Igorzo, Bardescheo Igorzo, Saxtticheo Igorzo- Poilo Khonnd and Saxtticheo Igorzo- Dusro Khondd. The latter was his final book, released in Cavelossim
, just a month before his death.
Fr. Moreno contributed to many Konakni periodicals. After seeing the Adivasis in Ranchi composing hymns in their mother tongue, he was inspired to compose hymns in his mother tongue Konkani. His two maternal uncles were musicians, which made him take up to composing hymns, poetries and songs easily. After being ordained Fr. Moreno wrote articles for the Salesian Konkani weekly Aitarachem Vachop, Udentechem Neketr, a Konkani weekly from Bombay and Vavraddeancho Ixtt
, a weekly still run from Pilar
by the Society of Saint Francis Xavier, Pilar
.
Fr. Moreno also translated a part of the holy Bible. He was a member of the Povitr Pustokachea Vavrachi Somiti (PPVS), which was a committee formed by the Archdiocese of Goa e Damão, for the translation of the bible. He translated Barukachem Pustok (the book of Baruch
) besides some others books.
Despite loving his mother tongue Konkani, and not being afraid and ashamed to speak and write in it, father Moreno was a linguist and knew around 10 languages. He learned Latin
, Portuguese
, Tamil
, French
, Greek
, English
, Castilian, Catalonian, Marathi
, Hindi
et cetera besides knowing his mother tongue Konkani.
, who had visited Fr. Moreno a few days earlier in hospital, the main celebrant was the Archbishop Emeritus of Goa e Damão, Dom Raul Nicolau Gonsalves. The body is buried in the kopelmar of the Cathedral cemetery in Velha Goa.
Pilerne
Pilerne is a village situated in north Goa in the Bardez taluka of the North Goa district. The village is inhabited by Goan Catholics.-References:...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
- 14 October 2007, Alto de Porvorim, Socorro
Socorro (Serula)
Socorro is a census town in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa.-Demographics: India census, Socorro had a population of 10,171. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Socorro has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
) was a Goan Jesuit priest. He was also a famous Konkani Marian
Marian
Marian may refer to:* Marian , people with the given name Marian* Maid Marian, companion of Robin Hood* Marian, an adjective for things relating to Gaius Marius...
poet, Konkani writer, translator and a historian. He was one of the translators of the Povitr Pustok (the Holy Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
in Romi (Roman) Konkani).
Early life
Born at his maternal house in Pilerne, Goa, on the 3rd November, 1923 to Maria Magdalena and Jeronimo de Souza, Fr. Moreno spent his early life in MarnaMarna
Marna may refer to:*Marna, India, settlement in Goa, India*Marna, Estonia, village in Pärsti Parish, Viljandi County, Estonia*MV Marna, a British coaster formerly named Empire Cliff and later named Harcliff and then * Jean-Paul Marna, footballer...
and then Pilerne
Pilerne
Pilerne is a village situated in north Goa in the Bardez taluka of the North Goa district. The village is inhabited by Goan Catholics.-References:...
where he studied. He was born in a priestly family, with two of is maternal uncles, Pe. Leles de Souza and Pe. Cirilo de Souza diocesan priests in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. He was a very hard working and obidient child. He studied at the Institute Mater Dei in Saligão
Saligao
Saligao is a census town in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. It is surrounded by the villages of Porvorim, Parra, Guirim, Sangolda, Pilerne, Candolim, Calangute and Nagoa and is in Bardez Taluka of Goa...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. Being persuaded by Monsignor Ayres Fernandes from Siolim
Siolim
Siolim is a village in Bardez taluka, and a census town on the central west coast of India, in the North Goa district of Goa. The 2001 population was 10,311. Siolim is also the name of a constituency in the Goa assembly, which includes Assagao, Anjuna and Oxel, in addition to Siolim. This article...
to write in his own mother tongue, Moreno, as a boy, began writing in Konkani
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
.
Call to be a priest
With the Lord's inspiration and on the advice of his matenal uncle Padre Leles de Souza, Fr. Moreno de Souza decided to become a priest and join the Jesuit order. As confessed later, Fr. Moreno had not even heard of the Jesuits then, but his maternal uncle Padre Leles, a diocesan priest and an acclaimed music conductor was impressed with the congregation. He enterd the Jesuits on 8 November 1944.Fr. Moreno studied for the priesthood and was ordained in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on the 15th July, 1958. As his beloved mother and family was not present for his Ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, he had Spanish God parents. He loved the local people, who treated him with love. He was given the name Cosmus, but he continued with the name Moreno. He took his last vows on 22 April 1978. He completed more than 50 years of priesthood at his death.
Dor Mhoineachi Rotti
This Konkani monthly magazine, started in 1915 in Karachi and is dedicated to spread the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was shifted to Bombay around 1960. In 1964, Fr. Moreno was given charge of it and he moved into the then almost deserted, desolate Velha Goa in 1964. He nourished it with his love and care and edited it for around 42 years till mid-2006.Besides he was the first person to use the term Old Goa
Old Goa
Old Goa or Velha Goa is a historical city in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The city was constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century, and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until its abandonment in the 18th century due to plague...
, for Velha Goa, when he printed Old Goa as the address for the monthly in the 1960s. It led to problems in the mail services, as letters were being returned, as the postal officials did not realise it referred to Velha Goa in English. Velha Goa is the Portuguese name, which was used for more than a century. In his later years he said that he now prefers the Konkani names Adlem Gõy or Pornnem Gõi to Old Goa. Konkani was very dear to his heart.
As a priest and writer
Beisdes travelling to Bombay, Shembaganur (Tamil Nadu), BelgaumBelgaum
Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad....
, Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
as a seminarian and priest, Fr. Moreno was posted at various places in Goa. Some include Bicholim
Bicholim
Bicholim is a city and a municipal council in North Goa district in the state of Goa, India. It is a town in the territory of Goa, and the headquarters of the concelho of the same name; the Concelho of Bicholim, located in the north-east quarter is one of the seven that make up the Novas...
, Carambolim and Alto Porvorim, besides Velha Goa. The people loved him as could be seen at his funeral. He worked dynamically in Our Lady of Grace Parish and School, Bicholim and worked among all people, besides working in other areas too.
Fr. Moreno wrote many hymns, books and articles, besides poetries. Many were Marian based. He loved the Our Lady, and was saved from near death in 1972 from a sickness with Her intercession.
One of his first books was Nixkollonk Gorb Sombhovlelê on the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
of Our Lady. He wrote books on the history of the Churches of Goa, in parts. They include Tisvaddcheo Igorzo, Bardescheo Igorzo, Saxtticheo Igorzo- Poilo Khonnd and Saxtticheo Igorzo- Dusro Khondd. The latter was his final book, released in Cavelossim
Cavelossim
Cavelossim is a census town in South Goa district in the state of Goa, India.The town hosts a well known beach at the southernmost tip of the Salcete beach stretch that starts from Majorda in the north to Cavelossim in the south...
, just a month before his death.
Fr. Moreno contributed to many Konakni periodicals. After seeing the Adivasis in Ranchi composing hymns in their mother tongue, he was inspired to compose hymns in his mother tongue Konkani. His two maternal uncles were musicians, which made him take up to composing hymns, poetries and songs easily. After being ordained Fr. Moreno wrote articles for the Salesian Konkani weekly Aitarachem Vachop, Udentechem Neketr, a Konkani weekly from Bombay and Vavraddeancho Ixtt
Vavraddeancho Ixtt
Vavraddeancho Ixtt is a Goan weekly magazine in Romi Konknni. It has been published continuously since 1933 and is one of the oldest publications in the state.It was started on January 4 1933 by Fr Arsencio fernandes and Fr Graciano Moraes...
, a weekly still run from Pilar
Pilar, Goa
Pilar is a village in Goa, India, some 10 km from the state capital Panaji. It is on a hill top and has a panoramic view of the Arabian Sea and the mountains all around.- Pilar Society :...
by the Society of Saint Francis Xavier, Pilar
Pilar
Our Lady of the Pillar is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her claimed appearance during the start of Christianity in Spain. She is considered the Patroness of the country and the Spanish Civil Guard. Her shrine is in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, by the river...
.
Fr. Moreno also translated a part of the holy Bible. He was a member of the Povitr Pustokachea Vavrachi Somiti (PPVS), which was a committee formed by the Archdiocese of Goa e Damão, for the translation of the bible. He translated Barukachem Pustok (the book of Baruch
Baruch
Baruch has been a given name among Jews from Biblical times up to the present, on some occasions also used as surname. It is also found, though more rarely, among Christians—particularly among Protestants who use Old Testament names....
) besides some others books.
Despite loving his mother tongue Konkani, and not being afraid and ashamed to speak and write in it, father Moreno was a linguist and knew around 10 languages. He learned Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Castilian, Catalonian, Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
et cetera besides knowing his mother tongue Konkani.
Death and Funeral
After lying in hospital for around 10 days, Fr. Moreno died and was brought to the Jesuit Borea Jezuchi Basilika (Basilica de Bom Jesus) in Velha Goa. His funeral mass was concelebrated by numerous priests from the Jesuit community, diocesan priests and others. In the absence of the Archbishop of Goa e Damão Dom Filipe Neri FerrãoFilipe Neri Ferrão
Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão is the seventh Roman Catholic Patriarch of the East Indies and thirty-fifth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, India....
, who had visited Fr. Moreno a few days earlier in hospital, the main celebrant was the Archbishop Emeritus of Goa e Damão, Dom Raul Nicolau Gonsalves. The body is buried in the kopelmar of the Cathedral cemetery in Velha Goa.
External links
- http://www.goajesuits.in/events/20071014morenodesouza.htm