“If that is what makes you happy…”

– Interview with Errol Fernandes, SJ,

whose ‘A Jesuit’s Blog’ earned 10 million views recently

Congratulations, Fr Errol! What are your feelings on this occasion?

I thank God for his graces, and am delighted to be able to make a contribution to the lives of people even if in a small way.

What exactly made you give up a lucrative career in the corporate world and join the Jesuits?

I was in a Jesuit Parish (St Anne’s Parish, Mazagaon, Mumbai) and a Jesuit School (St Mary’s SSC) and Jesuits like Fr Ribes and Fr Beech influenced me in a very big way.  Fr Ribes was my mentor in many ways and I learned so much from him. While I knew that eventually I would want to dedicate my life to God in the Society of Jesus, I also knew that it would be after I had done what I had planned to do with my life before making that decision.  This plan was to first graduate and work for some years. I was blessed to get a job in Bahrain as an accountant for a computer company. In those days, getting a job in any part of the Gulf meant that your future was secure. There was big money, there were luxuries and what have you.  After reaching Bahrain, I became attached to the life there and for some time “forgot” that I wanted to be a Jesuit.

How did your family and friends react when you told them of your decision?

My friends thought that I was mad. This included the President and Managing Director of my company. When I handed over my resignation to them, they would not accept it. They asked me to keep it, think carefully and come back to them AFTER three months. I went to them after exactly three months with the same resignation letter. They were surprised. They requested me to reconsider, stating that they would keep the letter for another month before they could decide.

My dad (now in heaven) was one of the most detached persons I have ever encountered. When I called to inform my mum and dad that the money that I was sending them every month would stop because I was planning to join the Society, he replied, “If that is what makes you happy, it will make me happy.” My mum took a little longer to accept. However, one month after I informed her about my decision, I called again. This time she was ready and replied in almost similar words that my dad has used.

Before I left Bahrain, I handed my job to a friend of mine. He is still in Bahrain and is now a multi-milionaire. The President and Managing Director were so gracious that they allowed me to do that.

I have been to Bahrain many times after I became a Jesuit for Lenten Missions and have been to my former company. However, there was and is not even a single moment of regret. When I look at my friend, I know what I could have been had I stayed and yet God has graced me to know that I am where I need to be.

After reaching Bahrain, I became attached to the life there and for some time “forgot” that I wanted to be a Jesuit.

What attracted you to the Society of Jesus?

I was in a Jesuit School and Parish and Frs Peter Ribes and William Beech were great influencers. As a matter of fact it was Fr Ribes who suggested that I graduate, work for some years and then decide.

How did Scripture become such an important part of your life?

At the end of my first year theology, Fr George M Soares Prabhu (now in heaven) came to my room at De Nobili College and told me that as Dean he was granting me permission to do my second and third year theology in one year. This was because he wanted me to go back as soon as possible to the Commerce Section of St Xavier’s College, where Fr Aleu and I had begun a Commerce Section which catered primarily to the poor and marginalised. I accepted his gracious offer and completed my B.Th in two years. At the end of two years, he and I were both told that canonically I had to do three years of theology and it was not the degree but the number of years. He was not aware of this, nor was I. He then suggested that I do my M.Th in my third year which I did. I was attracted to scripture because of Fr George. As a matter of fact, for my dissertation, I chose a passage from the Gospel of Matthew – Fr George’s dissertation was on the Infancy Narratives of Matthew –  because I wanted to be challenged by him and I was.

When I called to inform my dad that the money that I was sending them every month would stop because I was planning to join the Society, he replied, “If that is what makes you happy, it will make me happy.”

Immediately after my Ordination, Fr Albert Menezes invited me to teach at St Pius X Seminary, Goregaon, where I have been teaching for the last 33 years. I also taught at Jnana Deepa for some years. This was besides my teaching Financial Management and Accountancy at St Xavier’s College Commerce Section. It seems that I have taken in some way after the evangelist and toll collector Matthew.

Tell us about the responses of your regular readers to your blog?

Many readers are very grateful for the daily reflections and write to me often. A lot of them say that the question at the end of the exegesis helps them remember the text and reflect on it for the whole day.

Many priests and religious are also appreciative, because it helps them prepare their homilies for the next day. I upload the matter on my blog the previous day. This helps those in New Zealand and Australia to have the material before their next day begins.

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