November 24 marks the birth anniversary of Fr Faustino De Souza, born in 1893, and is celebrated as the Founder’s Day for the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (SFN). His life was a testimony of profound humility and a tireless mission to restore hope and spiritual life in Goa, which was recovering from the suppression of religious institutes.
Fr Faustino was a man whose life mirrored the virtue of humility he frequently preached. His Pearls of Wisdom for his sisters emphasized virtues like love, silence, divine providence, sacrifice, mortification and above all, humility. This cornerstone of his spirituality was most clearly demonstrated in his approach to criticism and adversity.
Fr Faustino was a zealous priest and a visionary who became a missionary of hope for the marginalized in Goan society. He recognized the spiritual and social void left by the previous suppression of religious orders and responded by founding the SFN Congregation in 1935 to serve local families and later desired to branch out to the neighbouring States.
His mission was particularly focused on the poor, orphans, and the aged. He actively took initiatives like opening schools and boarding houses in the outskirts to cater to troubled and broken families, ensuring their physical and spiritual well-being. By caring for the boarders, he instilled in them values and provided holistic education, transforming their circumstances and future.
