Testimonials

 

 

— I witnessed sometimes Fr. Chico at about twelve o'clock at night -- in dead silence, praying in the Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament.  Once, I asked him:  "Father director, how many hours at night do you pray and how many hours do you sleep?"

     He smiled and kept quiet.

                                                  -Fr. S.J. da Piedade, Clergy Home

                                                    (Quote from 'Letter to the Editor, 1990)

 

— Fr. Chico was a living saint.

                                                  - Romel De Melo (7/6/2003)

                                                    romdemelo@hotmail.com

 

 

— Beneath a diminutive stature, a soft, almost feminine figure and face, there was in Fr. Chico a will of steel and a heart of gold. He made no secret that he drew his strength from his deep faith in Jesus Christ.  Like St. Paul he often said “ For me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.

     His life, from cradle to grave, was one dedicated to God.His favourite words that were said about Pius XII, aptly applied to him too: “P้s firme na Terra, olhos postos no C้u”. Feet firm on the ground, eyes looking in the direction of Heaven.

     His living was Spartan; he slept on a wooden bed, shunning all comforts. A great part of his long nights was spent in prayer before the altar of God.

     His last days - I remember vividly - gave him an opportunity to be even more Christ-like as was his wish. He tended lovingly every aged priest under his tutelage at the Clergy Home that the Archbishop
entrusted to his loving care. He dressed the wounds, cleansed the soiled beds, and kept long vigils at night by the bedside of those who were sick and bedridden. When he exhaled his last breath the name of Jesus was in his lips.
 

                                                     - Dr. Francisco Colaco - 6/29/2003

                                                                          dr_colaco@yahoo.com

 

 

— [Fr. Chico] was a living saint.

                                                      - Vimala Pinto

                                                                            Open Letter to God

 

 

— Padre Chico was an exemplary priest. He would pray for long hours in the chapel. Whether it was amongst the youth at Lar dos  Estudantes (a hostel for young boys who were pursuing their studies in Panjim) or the aged priests at Casa Urbina he was at everyone's service. He would personally see to the medication of each priest, bathe and clean bedridden priests. In fact, there was a beggar suffering from gangrene who needed to have his leg amputated.  Fr Chico refused to allow this to happen.  In consultation with his brother, late Dr. Gustavo Monteiro, he washed  and dressed the wound twice a day, bought and personally administered the medication till the man was fit.

 

                                                      - Marina Monteiro

                                                         (Source:  Goan Overseas Digest)

 

 

— Fr. Chico had an uncommon dialogue with God through prayer.  Prayer became the heartbeat of his spirituality - his effective prescription against physical ailments, and when a situation would warrant hospitalization, he would seek admission in the family chapel.

 

     If at times Fr. Chico rebelled with anger, it was out of passion for what he believed was righteous in the judgment of Truth.  He viewed all beings in the wisdom of God's creation, and in contrite humbleness, he endeavored to extend compassion even in the most inhospitable of circumstances.

 

      If being a conscientious human being is the first step to sainthood, then -- from that perspective -- Fr. Chico, undoubtedly, walked much beyond life!

                                                      - Dom Martin

                                                         dommartin9@aol.com

 

". . . [Fr. Chico] never liked to celebrate his birthday and used to come home on condition that we never did anything special.  During our annual feast, he never ate any rich food but used to go for his regular rice and curry.

His greatest weapon was his Rosary.  He used to say a rosary before his Mass with the Congregation, and at 7 p.m over the microphone at Clergy Home.  Even at home after sharing news with the family he would ask one of us to join him in saying the rosary.  On the way back to Clergy Home by car he used to say the rosary.  This was in addition to his regular "Rosario"(15 decades).  During the chapel novena days he would recite the Joyful Mysteries before morning Mass, sing the Sorrowful Mysteries after Mass and recite the Glorious Mysteries before the evening Mass.

                                                      - Marina Monteiro

                                                         (email:  7/15/2003)

                                                          joseiro@goatelecom.com

 

          . . . In these few lines I pay my humble and heartfelt tributes to this exemplary and devout priest who would never fail to celebrate Mass at the Family Chapel, a dedicated social worker and above all, a truly good man overflowing with the milk of human kindness.  May his soul rest in peace.

                                                      - Dr. Carmo Azavedo

                                                                          A Good Man Goes Away . . .

 

 

          . . . With his simplicity, affection and concern for all who approached him, Fr Chico won a great deal of sympathy which he used as a means to raise the minds and hearts to high ideals set by Goa for all human beings.

                                                       - Monsignor Alfred Mesquita.

                                                                           Hypnotizer of Youth  

 

 

          . . . Short in stature, he had an iron will and eyes of steel.  Yet these very eyes melted when he looked down with love on all with whom he came in contact with.  He was deeply convinced of what he said.  He had the courage of his convictions and did not mind differing with people, even though he would get on their wrong side, because he was a man of principles and never compromised specially in matters of faith and morals.  For this reason there were a few who misunderstood this man of God.  He was never malicious and if he felt that he had hurt someone, he was the first to make his peace with him.

                                                         - Rudy DeSouza

                                                                             Pe. Chico - Tribute to a Friend

       

          . . . I had the good fortune of being very close to him and I remember with emotion that he never nurtured hatred in his heart.  Clean mind, pure heart and a good will to help everybody.  Dutiful and aware of his mission on earth, these were some of the hallmarks of his personality.

                                                       

                                                          -Dr. Jose Rodrigues

                                                                               Remembering that Gentle Smile . . .

 

          . . . The passing away of Fr. Chico Monteiro marks an end of an era.  An era of joy, an era of sportsmanship, an era of love and an era of dedication.  From his seminary days at Rachol, his tenure as Assistant Parish Priest of Panjim, right through his term as guiding light of Lar dos Estudantes and finally as the pillar of strength to the inmates of Clergy Home, he brought a new meaning to the word "service".  His was a life of giving without thought of reward or recompense.

                                                                        - Edgar Silveira

                                                                               Tribute to Fr. Chico 

As one of those privileged many, I can still recall the halo of serenity and the innate feeling that justice would be dealt evenly, in his benign presence.  But more than these two inspiring and sobering first impressions , was the strong personal belief that he tried to instill in every Larista's mind- that of a "mens sana in corpore sano".

                                                                                -  Francisco Lume Pereira

                                                                                   Understanding Life Beyond Soccer