Born on 7th August 1979, in Silvepura, Bengaluru, Fr Praveen joined the Society of Jesus in 1998 and was ordained a priest on 9th Nov., 2013. On completing his LLM, he practiced law in Bengaluru courts. He was pursuing his doctorate in law at Christ University, Bengaluru, when he was diagnosed with a malignant lymphoma. As the Director of St Joseph’s College of Law, a post he held till he was incapacitated by the disease, he exercised his administrative skills with utmost dedication, great enthusiasm, and unceasing passion. In his last days he was cheerful and optimistic; and forgetting his pain, he battled for life until his last breath. He passed to the Lord on 22nd April in Bengaluru.
Fr Praveen Hrudayaraj had a multifaceted personality: a loving son, a beloved brother, a prayerful priest, a compassionate counselor, a faithful friend, a talented teacher, and a legal advisor. “Body Broken and Blood Shed”, the theme he had chosen for his first Thanksgiving Mass after his priestly ordination, found its fulfillment in his final surrender to the Lord in his untimely death. Reminiscing his presence in our lives, we recollect his smile, laughter, care, compassion, concern, appreciation, guidance and companionship – so moving indeed that it invites us to emulate his traits in our lives.
Fr Praveen as an outstanding Jesuit of Karnataka Jesuit Province drew inspiration from the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius and patterned his personal and apostolic life on the Ignatian charism. His quick wit and sense of humour, his creative ideas, and his compassion for the poor and the downtrodden, will remain with us as fond memories to be cherished. Thank you, Fr Praveen, for all that you have been to us. “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.”
Cyril Raj, SJ
