St. Pius College, Goregaon deeply mourns the passing away of Fr. Jose Maria Feliu, SJ on 10th December 2021 at the age of 92.
Fr. Jose Maria was born in Barcelona, joined the Society at Veruela, Spain, in 1947, and after taking his first vows in Veruela on 27th September 1949, was ordained priest in Barcelona on 30th July, 1959. He came to India as Professor at St Pius College in 1966, and took his Final Vows at Goregaon on 2nd February, 1969.
Fr. Jose Maria was mainly based at the Goregaon Seminary, where he was a Professor of Moral Theology and Canon Law, Spiritual Director, as well as Dean of Studies for one term. He was also Socius to the Provincial of Bombay, Socius to the Delegate of the International Houses in Rome, and also the Rector of the Gesu, Rome. Having finished these assignments, he came back to Goregaon in 2005.
In the many years he spent in the Goregaon Seminary, Fr. Jose Maria endeared himself to seminarians, novices, priests and religious, as well as lay persons. With the onset of the pandemic, he took great care to isolate himself so that he would not become a burden to anyone; and with great attention to social distancing, continued to provide spiritual guidance to those who desired to receive it from him.
Right until he had a fall while exiting from the chapel about a fortnight before his death, he continued to give spiritual direction, and was looking forward to his Latin classes, coming January. His passing away is the end of an era of Spanish Jesuits who served as professors in the seminary.
The Archdiocese of Bombay is deeply grateful to the Society of Jesus for permitting Fr Jose Maria to dedicate so many years of his life to the Archdiocesan Seminary.
May the soul of Fr. Jose Maria Feliu, SJ rest in peace.
Fr. Aniceto Pereira
