Stories by Walter Menezes

  My review of Fr Antonio Pereira’s autobiography,  Mhojea Hatanchi ani Vonttanchi Kanni . Published by Fr Freddy J Da Costa (1989) Pages: 168, Price Rs.15/- "On August 25, 1919, in the village of Sirlim in Chinchinim, a son was born to Antonio Ludovico Pereira and Anastasia Encarnaçao da Costa. They named him Antonio Luis Pereira. He was ordained priest on November 21, 1952 and rose to become Goa’s much loved and sought-after  pregador  (preacher) and a Konknni writer of repute." I had the opportunity of interacting with Fr. Antonio Pereira during a school retreat in Betul and years later at a workshop in journalism at the Baga Retreat House. Most of what I learnt is difficult to recollect now, a time-span of forty odd years casting shadows over distant events and episodes. What I do remember is the memory of a priest full of humility as he shared the ‘loaves of wisdom’ during the school retreat and one session at the Retreat House: the slide-show of Shel Silverstei...