Gunnest Pri. Moreno D’Souza

Gunnest Pri. Moreno D’Souza

Iadnik Bhav Moreno D’Souza Otubrache 14ver, 2007 Devachea Gopant gelo.

Ek boro huxar Iadnik, Konknni mogi ani Devachea mogan poddlolo Iadnik Gõyche Povitr Sobhek unno zalo mhunn sonvsari nodren dukh bhogta ani Bhavartache nodren sontos bhogta. Kiteak Iadnik bhavacho otmo Devachea gopant gelo. Ek sado, gunnest, Dev-bhirantecho Iadnik mhunn tannem soglle suvater nanv zoddlam.

Tachim provochonam (sermons) disa-dispottim jivitak lagta tache vixim astalem ani aikotoleank sorgar asa koxem distalem. Lhan utrancho ani peleache sevecho Iadnik to aslo. Kitem-i vaitt dislear tonddar sangpi, monant vo kallzant kainch dovrinam toslo iadnik to aslo.

Dor Mhoineachi Rotti hea mhoineallea masike-cho (monthly magazine) to zaito kall sompadok aslo ani tem masik jivall dovrunk zaite tras tannem ghetle. Vavraddeancho Ixtt, Renovacao, Gulab osleam Povitr Sobhe-cheam Potra-masikan-cher to aple zaite borem boroit aslo. Zaitea Kristi Dhormachea jivita vixim to son’xodhan (research) kortalo ani boroitalo. Gõycheam firgozam, kopelam vixim legit tannem zaitim pustokam boroileant ani Povitr Sobhek zaite torecho adar ani sohokar dila.

Romi ani Devonagori lipyent tannem zaiteo Konknni pustokam boroileant. Gõyant kitem-i vaitt borem zalem zalear aplem mon to rokddoch borovpantlean ugtem kortalo. Aplea borovpa udexim to soglleank thottak kortalo ani xabaski zoddun ghetalo. To boreantlo boro Konknni boroinnar aslo. Zoxem inglixent ek mhonn’nni asa - Pen is mightier than Sword.

Devan taka zaitea gunna-mnim bhorlolo ani he gunn tannem vevha-rant ghalunk zaite proytn kele. Devan tache sarke zaite gunnest Iadnik Povitr So-bhek favo korunk ani Iadnik Morenak sasnna-cho mukutt favo zavnk amchim khaltim magnnim.

Evaristo Fernandes,
Merces, St-Cruz

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Moreno de Souza SJ
1923-2007


Fr Moreno de Souza SJ (1923-2007), one of Konkani’s illustrious writers, passed away on October 14, 2007 at 7.30 pm at the JMJ Hospital, Alto-Porvorim, Goa. His mortal remains will he housed at the Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa and interred on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 4.00 pm.

Fr Moreno de Souza SJ was born on November 3, 1923, at Pilerne, Bardez, Goa at his mother’s house; his father was from Marna, Siolim. They later shifted to Pilerne permanently. Moreno completed his matriculation from Mater Dei Institute, Saligao. Being persuaded by Monsignor Ayres Fernandes from Siolim to write in his own mother tongue, Moreno, as a boy, began writing in Konkani. In 1944 Moreno joined the Society of Jesus. He completed his priestly training in Mumbai, Shembaganur (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi, Belgaum, Granada and Salamanca in Spain. He was ordained a priest on July 15, 1958 in Granada, Spain.

Fr Moreno ardently loved his mother tongue Konkani. His two maternal uncles were priests and musicians, which furthered his interests in composing songs, hymns and poetry. He knew several languages such as Latin, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalina, Marathi, Tamil and Hindi. Soon after his ordination Fr Moreno regularly started contributing to Aitarachem Vachop, a Konkani weekly run by the Salesians. He also contributed to Udentechem Neketr, a weekly from Bombay as also to Vavraddeancho Ixtt. He was inspired by the people of Ranchi to write religious hymns in Konkani when he saw Adivasi Christians singing their religious songs in Hindi.

Fr Moreno rendered invaluable service to the Konkani monthly Dor Mhoineachi Rotti in the Roman script. Fr Moreno was instrumental in keeping this publication alive till date. Dor Mhoineachi Rotti was first started in Karachi, Pakistan in 1915. In 1960 its office was shifted to Bombay. Later, when Fr Moreno was posted at Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, he was entrusted with the responsibility of this magazine. He served the readers of Dor Mhoineachi Rotti for the last 42 years as editor, till August 2006, after which this magazine was handed over to the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim, Goa.

Fr Moreno had established himself as a historian by dint of his hard work. His outstanding research and work on the Churches of Goa in Konkani (in the Roman script) deserve special mention. They include 4 volumes: Tisvaddecheo Igorzo, Bardescheo Igorzo, and Saxtticheo Igorzo (two volumes). Besides these he has authored 24 books in Konkani. His last book, Saxtticheo Igorzo (second volume) on the Churches of Salcette was released on September 23, 2007. He contributed innumerable articles in Konkani in the Roman script which were published in Vavaraddeancho Ixtt, Gulab, The Goan Review, Goencho Avaz, etc. He also penned a number of articles in English on varied subjects such as the Konkani language, literature and culture. Besides, he served the Konkani-speaking people by means of his preaching in various churches in Goa and elsewhere.

Fr Moreno was a member of the All India Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, Dalgado Konknni Akademi and Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr. He received numerous awards for his contribution to Konkani from Konknni Bhasha Mandal, Goa, Kala Academy, Gulab as well as Man of the Year award from The Goan Review. Fr Moreno was conferred the prestigious Goa State Cultural Award on February 16, 2007.

Fr. Moreno will be fondly remembered by generations of churchgoers and visitors to the Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, irrespective of their religion. His documentation of the Churches of Goa is a unique contribution that will see reprints long after his memory fades with the passage of time. Surely, his books and his charisma will keep Fr Moreno alive for generations to come.
http://www.goajesuits.in/events/20071014morenodesouza.htm