Bengaluru: Fr. Ronnie Prabhu SJ, a former provincial of the Catholic order of the Society of Jesus of Karnataka province (popularly known as Jesuits) and champion of Inter faith dialogue and harmony, died this evening at the St. Philomena’s hospital in Bangalore. He had been suffering for the last six months from stomach cancer and was in great distress. Those present, said, he was cheerful to the end and died with a smile on his face.
Fr. Ronnie Prabhu was born on April 9th 1940 and joined the Jesuits on the 1st of July 1957. He was ordained on the 23rd of February 1970.
Fr. Ronnie Prabhu served the society of Jesus in many capacities and was known for his interest and passion for development of an interfaith dialogue. In 1970, he set up the “Aashirvad centre for interfaith dialogue and conducted annual meets at the centre, besides which he maintained an excellent rapport with Swamiji’s and religious heads of other faiths across the state of Karnataka. In his death the state has lost a champion of religious harmony.
Fr. Ronnie Prabhu also served as the rector of St. Aloysius college, Managlore, after the centenary celebrations. He brought in a fresh look, that made a lot of difference, starting a Konkani Centre and an ITI. He also served as Rector, St. Josephs college Bengaluru, and Mt. St. Joseph, a formation centre for Jesuits at various times. As the provincial, he was instrumental in starting a CBSC school for the underprivileged in Raichur District which has now bloomed into a full fledged college.
At the time of his death, he represented all the dioceses of Karanataka as the Public Relations officer, having taken up this assignment after serving the Fatima Retreat House in Mangaluru as its director.
The funeral is at 9 am on Thursday August 20th at the St. Joseph’s Indian High School , Bengaluru.
