Fond Farewell to Fr Ralph da Costa

July 21 was a day of dual festivity. We celebrated Fr Ralph’s belated birthday and bid him a loving send-off. The whole community gathered in the evening to thank God for the gift of him to our world. With joy and gratitude, we celebrated life that is given to him and life that is given to us, in abundance. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” said Jesus.

God has accomplished much in & through Fr Ralph in 69 years of his life, and 53 of them as a Jesuit. God has blessed him with many a gift which he has well utilized for God’s Kingdom. A man of deep & strong faith, hope and love, he has enriched thousands by now, whether in formation of priests, through opening the treasures of Scriptures, through animating many religious congregations in their respective Charisms, through retreats, and through serving the Society as Formator and Superior in different communities. He has brought the Word of God in various ways to many. He has shown great care and concern to persons and works of this community.

God’s plan has unfolded in Fr Ralph’s life in his recent mission as Undersecretary of the Society of Jesus to which he has promptly responded. Though we will miss him, we are happy that his knowledge and wisdom, his experience and expertise will be used in service of the whole Society.

Fr Ralph left for Rome on July 22. We pray that he may be all the more blessed with all that he needs, good health of body and mind, peace and joy in the heart and that his life and work with people in the General’s Curia & outside may bring much fulfillment and fruitfulness in his own heart.