Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Oct 6: ‘‘God messed up with the plans of Joseph. His brothers threw him into a dry well, and then sold him into slavery. The wife of his Egyptian master tried to seduce him. When he refused her advances, she turned him over to the Egyptian guards, who then tossed him in prison. He spent years in prison, waiting to be released. I don’t think that Joseph had included prison time in his life plan. Finally, after many years of painful waiting, God exalted him to the second in command in all of Egypt. Same thing happened in my life also. In my childhood, I never thought that one day I will became a priest. But now when I look back at my life as a priest, I feel it was a journey of unexpected turns and happenings,” says Fr V J Menezes.

He is completing 50 years of priesthood on October 6.

Early years

Fr V J Menezes was born in Hosabettu near Moodbidri in 1940. He was the second child of Luvis Menezes and Sebestiana who were agriculturists. Fr V J completed his primary education at St Sebastian Higher Primary School. When he completed seventh standard, his father told him to drop from school and assist him in his agricultural works. With sorrow filled heart, Fr V J agreed and started to work in paddy and areca fields. He lost hope of going to school again and decided to continue his life as a farmer.

An incident which happened a year later, made his father change his mind and send Fr V J back to school. One morning, Fr V J had climbed an arecanut tree for plucking the areca. All of sudden there was a breaking sound and the tree started to bend. Immediately his father asked him to get down from tree and sent him home. The next day he took V J to parish priest J G Pinto to discuss about his schooling. Fr J G Pinto made all arrangements to give education to V J and sent him to St Ann’s Friary in Mangaluru.

“Capuchin fathers admitted me to St Aloysius High School and I completed my SSLC with good marks. In our time, a boy who is studying under patronage of religious fathers meant that he would become a priest. In my family all started to say that V J will become a Franciscan priest very soon. After SSLC, the fathers sent me to Coimbatore Seminary to learn Latin. Then again, I came to Mangaluru and completed my novitiate at Farangipet. Later I did my study in Philosophy at Thrissur and theology at Kotegiri, Tamil Nadu. On October 6 in 1968, I was ordained as a Capuchin priest at Hosabettu Church,” recalls Fr Menezes

Post-ordination

After ordination Fr V J Menezes was sent to Bhavan’s College, Chowpati, Mumbai for journalism course. Then he was appointed as editor of ‘Sevak’ Monthly which is a publication of Capuchin Fathers, Mangaluru. After completing his tenure in ‘Sevak’, Fr V J went to United States for higher studies in the subject of ‘Franciscan Spirituality.’ After returning to India, Fr V J became a full-time preacher and travelled across India for retreats.

“I completed my seminary studies in 3 different states. So besides English, Latin, Kannada and Hindi, I became fluent in Tamil and Malayalam also. This helped me a lot for my preaching career. I was the first Indian who got admission for the studies on ‘Franciscan Spirituality’ at United States. This study made me popular in India and majority of congregations and their convents invited me to preach on spirituality. In Mangaluru also, I was invited by parish priests for week-long retreats in their parishes,” he adds.

Literary life

Fr V J Menezes has some major achievements in Konkani literary world also. He wrote and published two novels ‘Noyella’ and ‘Tuja Albumacher Moji Tasvir’. ‘Jinyenthle Anbhog’ and ‘Hevshili ani Tevshili Koos’ are two books written by him based on lessons of self experience and spiritual and public life.

“Fr Remegious OFM pushed me to write in Konkani. So at time of my study in seminary, I started to write short stories and once I completed my journalism course, I took up writing seriously. Late Joachim Santan (JoSa) Alvares forced me write religious articles and he published some in his magazine ‘Mitr’. Thereafter I wrote articles to many Konkani periodicals. ‘Divo’ a Konkani periodical published from Mumbai felicitated me by giving ‘Divo Sahithy Puraskar’. Same time I wrote lyrics and composed tunes to two devotional albums ‘Rooch Maka Di’ and ‘Kainch Maka Naka’. When I was in high school, I got chance to learn playing musical instrument trumpet. Later, I became a master in playing this instrument. This helped me a lot to sing hymns and compose tunes,” Fr Menezes reminisces.

'I am happy'

Answering to a query on his memorable moment in priesthood, Fr V J says “I enjoyed every moment of my priesthood with prayers, preaching, writing and interaction with the people of various sections in society. When I was in Mumbai for first time, I took initiative to form an association for housemaids who belonged from Mangaluru and surrounding areas. With this association, I got to know the issues faced by housemaids working in Mumbai. It was a successful initiative and hundreds of housemaids became members of this association. “

Fr V J Menezes is known for his simplicity and spiritual thoughts. Unfortunately, last year he lost his right leg due to high diabetes. However, his health condition has not dampened his hope and enthusiasm. Fr V J spends his time at St Ann’s Friary in Mangaluru immersed in prayers, reading and writing. People are visiting him and he is always available for their spiritual needs with appointments.