Fr
Archie is no more. He loved and preached music. By
Joel D'Souza
Tanga-born Fr Achibald Fernandes hailed from a very
rare breed of Catholic priests given to preaching
music. Goa certainly needs revival of music schools
of yesteryears in our churches, since we have quite
a few priests ingrained in music,” he told us
way back in 2004. Fr Archie spent “enjoyable
times playing with the talented boys” with who
he strung together big-time bands – Green Sleeves
(1973 to 1979) and Cascades – unbeatable at
their superb performing style.
The Fransalian priest mixed music
and education admirably. As an educationist, he served
as a principal of various schools – SFX High
School in Siolim, St Thomas High School in Aldona
and St Francis de Sales High school, which he had
founded in Pune. He was also the principal of St Francis
de Assisi High School at Shivaji Nagar in the same
city.
He played the saxophone famously
along with Tony Dias, Victor, Desmond, Abel, Michael,
Julius and Stella until 1989 played for the inimitable
Cascades outfit, the envy of every band and the automatic
choice for the most prominent dances and shows in
Goa.
While Fr Archie played, he believed
that “there are hundreds of eyes following you…
a priest playing saxophone on stage.” Music
and preaching, though disparate, helped him “induce
them with a bit of spirituality and certain values
and often establishing fine camaraderie by mixing
freely with the members of other participating bands”.
Being a music teacher, the group could not hope for
a better guide and mentor than Fr Archie. He bemoaned
the fact that there were “extraordinarily talented
musicians among the priests”, who did not venture
out to play”. Fr Archie preferred to be unusual.
He even played for the Grease for two years while
in Muscat.
The revered bandleader’s father
– Manuel Fernandes – played the flute
and his mother – Petronila (Nelly) – excelled
at the keyboards as does his sister Sheila. Archie
and his brothers (Eddie and Ronnie) plumped for the
haunting harmony of the saxophone. The eminent tunesmith
regaled music aficionados throughout his priesthood.
Even when he was being ordained priest 1965, he was
in the thick of music. His quarters at the Fransalian
seminary at Bastora was always strewn with a variety
of musical instruments as he took pride in preparing
youngsters in music.
The ever jovial Fr Archie, suffered
his sickness stoically for quite some time, and eventually
signed off from planet Earth, for greener pastures
up in heaven on May 13. With his immense experience
at entertaining thousands with ethereal music, his
former associates in music vouch for the fact that
their beloved mentor - Fr Archie - would be as much
happy, busy and in hi demand in Lord’s abode
as he used to be here in His vineyard. Fr Archie’s
mortal remains will be laid to rest on May 15 in Pune.
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