A Quiet Presence That Still Walks with Me

  •   Sat, Apr 18 2026
  •   By Fr Ajay Nelson D'Silva SJ

April 18, 2026

Fr. Melwin Pinto, SJ is one person who has impacted my life and will always remain a part of my life through how he has become a thread in the fabric of my being. He has enriched my life so profoundly in ways I keep uncovering each day since his passing that it is difficult to know how or why his absence affects me so deeply—besides the fact that a large piece of my daily activities is now missing; but also, because some part of me has adjusted gently, yet distinctively since he expired.

Melwin’s voice once thundered and filled the room with strength, inspiration, and charged energy that moved people. He had a way of captivating others with all that he said! He has not been lost to me but remains with me in my memories of him like a living, breathing though quiet, presence. I often find myself going back to the little moments. Not grand events, not big achievements—but the quiet, almost unnoticed encounters. A simple conversation in passing. A knowing smile. A gentle word of encouragement that came at just the right time. A reassuring presence when things felt uncertain or heavy. He had this rare gift of making you feel understood without having to explain too much. In his presence, you did not feel the need to perform or pretend—you could simply be.

He always spoke slowly, with intention rather than filling the gaps of silence, and he was aware that every time he paused, there was also meaning in the silence. Long after we were done speaking, his words would remain with me; sometimes I can understand what he said much better now than I could then, which is strange because he still teaches me things even after he has died. It seems that the way he used to reach me now is through my memories of him, when I reflect on those memories and through the quiet movements of my heart.

There are also moments of regret that I have—such as wishing I had listened to him more, wondering if I could have been more open with him, though I was open, or wishing that I would have spent more time just being in his presence. But I have found some grace and beauty in having these feelings of regret, because they remind me of how important being present truly is, and represented so much of what he was about.

While his absence has produced silence, there has still been a filling of that silence. It has fillings of his laughter, his wisdom, and his gentle strength. I have found my heart wondering, "What would he have said? How would he respond? What would he have seen that I did not?" And the answers come to me, not loud and thunderous, but soft and gentle like he always was with me.

Grief brings with it an understanding of how significant a person is in our lives and how much they have impacted our lives. When I think of Fr. Melwin, I recognize that he has had a profound impact on me, not through large moments, but through consistent acts of witness. He did not need to be the centre of attention to have a positive effect on people. His true legacy was manifested in the lives that he touched, in being himself, in being there, and in being faithful.

Though a person may depart from this world, they will still remain alive in some way. They will continue to shape how we see everything, respond to people and what we believe about ourselves. For me, Fr. Melwin will always continue to walk with me in the thoughts I have of him, in the choices I make and in the way I am trying to live my life.

Fr. Melwin’s heart was instinctively drawn to the marginalised: the forgotten faces, the voiceless, the people who have fallen through the cracks of society. He didn't just serve these people, he was with them; he became a companion to the poor who were seeking dignity, to youth who were trying to find their way, and to the broken who longed for healing. He believed that no one is excluded from God's love and he made it his mission to show this love to others; his involvement in social causes was about restoring dignity, not just about charity. He saw Christ in the poor; he did not see them as beneficiaries but rather as brothers and sisters. In a world driven by recognition and reward, he pursued the hidden path— the path that only God sees. The absence of Fr. Melwin is deeply felt today, particularly by those whose lives he touched in ways inexpressible. However, his impact lives on through every life he uplifted, every heart he healed, and every act of love he performed in silence. Fr. Melwin not only preached the Gospel, but rather embodied it for “the lost, the last, and the least.”

 Fr. Melwin never gave me a copy of any of his homilies; however, when he delivered a homily at Fr. Dion's mother's first death anniversary, I was so touched by it, I requested for the copy. Fr. Melwin said he could not give it because he had only written it down on a small, hand written piece of paper. To my surprise, Fr. Melwin later contacted me and asked me to come and see him — and when I arrived, he presented me with a typed copy of the homily I had requested.

The day of his ordination was far more than a simple ceremony, it was the first ordination ceremony I had ever attended, and I will remember it forever. I remember standing there having no idea that the man being ordained on that day (on 14 April 1997 at Our Lady of Miracles Church) would eventually play such a key role in my own spiritual journey. I was soon going to be on the same journey that Father Melwin had walked: walking in his footsteps and, by the grace of God, becoming a Jesuit priest.

 

 
By Fr Ajay Nelson D'Silva SJ
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Comment on this article

  • Rita, Germany

    Sat, Apr 18 2026

    Dear Fr Ajay.how true your words are.Some persons leave behind their presence ,without shouting loudly or even without speaking and remain life long i you.Even after death or walk out of your life.One need to only look at a person and you are mesmerized.That leaves back a strong feeling Need not be a Priest ,Nonne but even a civil person, Teacher .I still remember my teacher from our village in Board school ,who was a very streng and other who was ordinary but told me a simple sentence ,and I remember it till today.That made me motivated to learn it better and I got the best marks.Thank you for bringing back my old school days.And still walks with me.


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