By Matters India Reporter

Pune: Jesuit Father Vasco do Rego, a noted Goan crusader and Konkani stalwart, died.

The death occurred at 9:45 pm on February 17 in Pune, Maharashtra. He was 95.

The funeral will be held on February 19 at St Xavier’s Church in Pune.

Father Rego was widely acknowledged for contributing to the Church in Goa in the fields of liturgy in Konkani and translation and editing work of the Konkani Bible.

He also did pioneering work on the Konkani Hymnal Gaionacho Jhelo (garland of hymns) which is used in Goa and elsewhere Konkani Masses are held. He was a strong protagonist of the Konkani language. He wrote various articles and poems on various issues.

He was awarded the Goa State Cultural Award in 2014.

The Konkani language supporters have mourned the death of Jesuit Father Vasco do Rego.

“He was fondly known as ‘Pitaji’ (father) among his friends and followers,” says Jesuit Father Pratapananda Naik, former director of the Thomas Stephens Konkkni Kendr, a research institute working on issues related to the Konkani language, literature, culture and education.

Father Naik hailed Father Rego as a multifaceted and multitalented member of the Goa Jesuit province.

He was born on January 8, 1925, at Panaji, capital of Goa. His parents were Antonio Augusto do Rego and Aurora Maria Helena Correia Afonso do Rego. His father was a known doctor. He was the grandson of Roque and Claudina Correia Afonso, who had 7 priests among their 52 grandchildren. Father Renato do Rego of Goa Archdiocese was his brother.

Father Rego first joined Rachol Seminary to become a priest for the Goa archdiocese. While doing philosophy studies there, he experience a call to join the Jesuits, which he did in 1945. He did his novitiate at Vinayalaya at Andheri East, Mumbai (then Bombay). He was sent to the Jesuit theologate St. Albert of Eegenhoven, Louvain, Belgium, to do his theology studies that he completed in 1956.

He was ordained a priest on August 15, 1955 and did his tertianship at the Institute of Bellarmine, Wépion, Belgium and returned to Pune in 1957. He served as a student counselor of St. Vincent School, Pune, during 1958-1963.

He had served as the spiritual director of Rachol Seminary for four years from 1963, rector of Loyola High Margao, Goa, for five years until 1973. He was the rector and novice master at Xavier training College, Desur, Karnataka (1973-78), director of Retreat House, Baga, Goa (1978-1979), rector of Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa (1979-1995), Chaplain of Stella Maris Chapel, Miramar, Panaji (1995-1998), Spiritual Ministries and translation of the Bible into Konkani (1998), Editor of Konknni monthly “Dor Mhoineachi Rotti” (Monthly Bread) (2009- 2021).

“All his activities, vision, and life were centered and focused around “Abba Father.” Trinitarian based spirituality guided his entire life and all apostolates. Throughout his life he promoted this Trinitarian rooted spirituality through various ministries. The greatest and most valuable contribution he rendered to the Church in Goa was in the fields of liturgy in Konkani and translation and editing work of the Konkani Bible,” says Father Naik.

After the Second Vatican Council, the Church urged him to translate the Mass into Konkani language. He was one of the members to translate, edit and publish the Roman Missal in Konkani.

Father Rego knew Latin, Spanish, French, Italian and Marathi, besides Konkani and Portuguese. He had the working knowledge of Greek too.

“All these languages and his mastery over formal Konkani were his assets in his liturgical and biblical contributions. Due to his efforts emerged Konkani hymnal “Gaionacho Jhelo” which is used in Goa and elsewhere by Konkani speaking Catholics,” Father Naik says.

Father Rego contributed 332 of the 511 hymns in that book. He had set music to 52 of his hymns. He had written 15 Konknni poems, 10 English hymns and poems and 2 Portuguese poems.

His many articles in Konkani and English were published in various magazines and newspapers.

As a strong protagonist of the Konkani language, he motivated seminarians, priests, nuns, and lay people to use converse in that language. He was a good preacher in Konkani, English and Portuguese. He also excelled as an Ignatian retreat director and was sought for recollection talks, and conferences, Father Naik say.

In 1961, he found Ishaprema-Vinamra-Sevika (Humble Servants of God’s Love) in collaboration with Norberta Lobo (Mataji Nirmala). The new family aimed to make people, particularly the most needy, to know and experience Heavenly Father’s love and concern for each one. Their homes are known as Ishaprema-Niketan (Home of God’s Love). It has branches in Goa’s Asagao and Goa Velha.

He was one of the founders and great supporter of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), a Jesuit institute which promotes Konknni language, literature and culture through research and other activities.