Pioneer Of 11 Mission Stations, Fr. Eric Pinto Passes Away

ALLAHABAD, MAR. 09, 2008 (CBCI News):

Pioneer of many mission stations and a zealous proclaimer of the Good News, Fr Eric Pinto died in Allahabad. He was 72.

Fr. Eric was an outstanding missionary who opened up 11 mission stations in the Diocese of Allahabad. His motivator had been a professor at Innsbruck, Austria who told him: “I would advise you: do not follow the beaten path, but go where there is no path and leave a trail behind.”

The ‘trail’ left by Fr. Eric is varied and in many fields. He was generous with finances obtained from his benefactors, but generous even to a fault. He has liberated not only those oppressed by evil spirits but also many who are oppressed by finances. He used to be so meager and so frugal in his meals, which perhaps is also knows as a reason for his sickness. However, it is only in giving that we receive; it is only in dying that we are born again“.

On April 26, Fr. Eric was in Delhi on his way to Germany. But providence had other plans for him. His sickness could not be diagnosed by his niece Andrea. He was flown to Mumbai for a thorough check-up at Leelavati Hospital, where doctors declared that he was suffering from brain hemorrhage - an irreversible sickness.

After providing medical care for 1½ month, he was brought to Nazareth Hospital in Allahabad on June 11, 2007. He died on Mar. 5 in the same hospital.

The Bishop of Allahabad Isidore Fernandes with 80 concelebrants celebrated the funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Allahabad on March 7, with large number of religious sisters and people .

Fr. Eric Pinto was born in Bendur , Mangalore on October 27, 1935.

Eric did his high school studies from St. Joseph’s High School, Umarkadi, Mumbai. He completed intermediate and B. Sc from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.

After his graduation, Eric worked for Khadi Industries in oil and soap division and he rose to be the inspector in soap – making industry and was stationed at Kanpur.

In one of the Sunday sermons, Fr. Faustine Alva, the then Parish Priest of St. Xavier’s, Kanpu asked: “Why should only the foreigners come and serve our people here all these years? Why can’t the sons of the soil take up the responsibility of serving the Church?”. This inspired young Eric to join the Seminary.

In July 1957, Eric was in St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Lucknow for a year of orientation. In the following years, he was in the Papal Seminary, Pune for his philosophical studies.

In 1963, Eric was sent to Innsbruck, Austria for his theological studies. He was ordained a priest on March 11, 1967. In July that year, Fr. Eric was in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Allahabad teaching Patrology and allied subjects. After two years Fr. Eric was posted to St. Joseph’s Cathedral as an assistant to Fr. Faustine Alva, his guru.

In the late 60’s, there was s severe drought in Meja and Karchana tehsil of Allahabad , where mostly ‘Kol’ Adivasi people lived. Fr. Alva and Fr. Eric managed to get some food for work projects and employed most of the adivasis in digging ponds and deepening of lakes and building bands to retain rainwater. People appreciated their work so much that they used to call these priests ‘Pitaji ‘.

From the Cathedral, Fr. Eric was transferred to Renukoot where he founded a school at Murdhwa for the slum children. Today it is a junior high school. From Renukoot he opened a ‘Asnaband Mission’ to bring Good News to Uraon adivasis.

In 1976 Fr. Eric was back in Allahabad as Vicar Capitular when Bishop Alfred Fernandes retired. In 1977 when Bishop Baptist Mudartha was transferred from the See of Jhansi to Allahabad, Fr. Eric was back in Renukoot for the second term. This time there was request for English medium school in thermal plant townships of Sahktinagar, Anpara, and Rihandnagar. Fr. Eric could approach the highest civil authorities like GMs and DMs with ease as he was at ease with the ‘jhuggi – jhopriwalas’. Schools and convents were opened in Shaktinagar, Anpara and Rihandnagar.

In the late 80’s, Fr. Eric was back in the Cathedral as the Parish Priest. With his music and singing, he was a great attraction with the youth. He would gather the youth and mix with them freely.

From the Cathedral, Fr. Eric was transferred to St. Patrick’s Church Allahabad, where he began his new ministry of exorcism. So many people would flock to him to be liberated from the power of evil one and be healed. Hence, he was called to the Seminary to teach Patrology and Angelorum and till 1998 he was a visiting professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Allahabad.

From St. Patrick’s, Allahabad a call came to open a station at Jagdishpur where an Indo – Gulf fertilizer factory and township had come up. Fr. Eric stated a high school, a Church, a Parish House and a Convent. The Church was built by his own resources. From Jagdishpur, Fr. Eric moved to Shankargarh to open his 11th Mission station and he was so proud to say so. In Shankargarh a School for the children of the labourers who are working in the Silicon and Sand mines was opened along with an English medium school.

Fr Eric was active as ever until illness forced him to be confined to bed.