Fr. Dionysius Rasquinha, SJ, affectionately called Fr. Dion, was a scholar, teacher, guide and mentor, writer, musician, vibrant Jesuit, dedicated priest and above all, a lover of life. Love for the poor, especially Dalits, permeated his research, teaching and writing, along with a commitment to promote integral cosmic wellbeing. He was a perfectionist who wanted to excel in all that he did and in all that was entrusted to his care; for this he applied himself fully into all that he undertook, not counting the cost.
A major part of Fr. Dion’s life as a Jesuit priest, was dedicated to theological research, teaching-guiding-mentoring theology students and writing. He was one of the stalwarts of the Regional Theology Centre (RTC) at Patna, and he promoted theological reflections on contemporary issues. He demanded the best from his students and closely accompanied them for achieving it. In as much as he was a ‘hard task master’ on the intellectual front, he was an affectionate companion who accompanied them with immense love. The annual seminars of RTC in which Fr. Dion participated and/or guided the students, invariably had the stamp of academic rigor. In the last five years of his life, he served as Assistant Treasurer of Patna Province / Patna Jesuit Society.
Fr. Dion celebrated life in many ways: music, food, companionship, animated discussions and jokes; heartfelt outbursts of laughter with his whole body shaking, was his trademark. There were no half measures in his work or celebration of life, there was only fullness and abundance. Even serious health setbacks could not dampen his spirit because his source was Jesus, who came to give us life – life in abundance (Jn 10:10).
- Susai Raj, SJ
