The Charms of Santa Cruz of Yore - Part Four ~ Archie D'Souza

 The Charms of Santa Cruz of Yore - Part Four

Summer holidays would end and school would start and with it the onset of the monsoons. This was the season for indoor games. So, we played carom and table-tennis. But there were the adventurous among us who’d play football during the rainy season. This was also the month when we purchased our text and notebooks. Gokhlesh Book Centre in Khar and Jules Meneze in Santa Cruz would di roaring business during this time of the year – also, the shops selling raincoats and rubber footwear.

Sunday school would also resume during this part of the year. The first feast we celebrated was the feast of the Sacred Heart, which was also our parish feast. I remember going for morning mass and there used to be adoration for the rest of the day with a special benediction in the evening. Adults and children would be seen in the church together.

Besides Sunday school catechism classes were also conducted during one period in regular school. I always wondered who designed the catechism instructions – questions, with answers that we had to repeat verbatim. Not one of us understood what we were saying or writing. And, you were not allowed to think or question. I found this out the hard way.

We were being taught about the creation of the Earth and the Heavens. I remember learning in science that the Earth revolved on its axis and a day was measured accordingly. Now according to the book of Genesis the Sun and the stars were created on the fourth day. I made the mistake of asking the teacher how the first three days were measured. How could I be questioning God’s Word? As punishment I had to kneel in front of the class with my hands up. Why did God give us the ability to think, why do we get punished for using that faculty? I thought to myself definitely not aloud for fear of further punishment

I was told very sternly by the teacher that I would have to confess this mortal sin to the priest. So, that evening I went to my confessor, Fr. Vincent Pereira. Fr. Vincent gave me a patient hearing.” What you asked is not a sin” he said, “I’ll speak to your teacher.” The following day Fr. Vincent gave a different interpretation to the story of creation. He also explained to us that the Bible was not a science book. We asked him a lot of questions and he answered every one of them. What a change from rote learning! Fr. Vincent changed out approach to catechism and for a change it became very interesting. Lessons which I learnt then I still remember to date.

Sacred Heart School had a great sporting tradition. We were semi-finalists or finalists in hockey almost every year. I used to take part in the selection trials but never made it to the school team. With stalwarts like David Philips, Francis Andrew, Nobert D’Souza, Bala Nair and others I never could get a chance. One year we entered the finals. It was the first time. Our opponents were St. Stanislaus, Bandra. A month earlier we had beaten them in a “friendly” match. So, I thought, the championship was ours. The match was on a Saturday afternoon at the BHA stadium. Many of the boys wanted to watch. Our school worked full day on Saturdays then. Fr. Dick did not give us permission to go. I decided to plat truant and watch the match. Of course I didn’t have money for the train fare but David and Francis between them bought my ticket. Derrick Johannes was the coach and he made sure I was well refreshed. The stands were full of St. Stanislaus boys and staff. Everyone from the principal onwards had come to cheer them. I did manage to make a lot of noise but I wasn’t loud enough for a stadium full of opponents. Sacred Heart was defeated by a solitary goal. We felt as bad as when India had lost to Pakistan in the semi-finals of the inaugural World Cup. We (India) won every match at the league stage without conceding a goal and Pakistan would have lost their place but for a match between Holland and Japan.

On Sunday after mass Fr. Dick called me. “How did you enjoy the match?” he asked me. “Which match?” I asked. “Archie” he said, “Don’t think I don’t know. I would have found out anyway.” “Who told you?” I asked thinking that since anyway I was going to get some whacks with his cane might as well know who the traitor was. A few minutes later, Derrick walked in. “Ask him how I know” Fr. Dick said. It so happened that Paul Mampally told Fr. Dick how thankful the team was for sending me to cheer them. The others tried to shut Paul’s trap but it was too late.

One thing I had realised by then is that if you were bold and told Fr. Dick the truth he didn’t cane you. In fact he took a decision that for next year on I was to be a non-playing member of the team. I could accompany the team for every game and would be entitled to the allowances that the team members got. Unfortunately, Fr. Dick got transferred and I left Sacred Heart.

A few years later when I was in college and Mgr. Nereus was the principal SH reached the finals again and the boys were given the afternoon off to watch the match. I too decided to watch the match and cheer my former school. The opponents once again were St. Stanislaus. While a lot of staff members were present, including the principal, there were not more than ten SH boys at the stadium. For some reason Fr. Dick had come to watch. This is what he had to say to me, “You know now why I didn’t give the boys an afternoon off during my time.”

[next week more about the sporting tradition at Sacred Heart and also how I got even with Paul]

 

 

The Sacred Heart Boys' High School building