Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 22: A Requiem Memorial Mass was solemnly celebrated in St Aloysius Chapel on December 20, to commemorate the life and services of Fr Swebert, D’Silva SJ, the former principal of St Aloysius Pre-University College (2001-2006) and St Aloysius College (autonomous), Mangaluru (2007-2017).
The main celebrant, Fr Dionysius Vas, SJ, recollected Fr Swebert’s unwavering faith in God and committed zeal in building up the St Aloysius institutions. The vice chancellor, Fr Praveen Martis SJ, lauded Fr Swebert’s dedicated service and lasting contribution to St Aloysius institutions and the wider community. Father lived a life of integrity and commitment, he added. The Mass focused on prayers for the repose of Fr Swebert’s soul and reflections on his years of committed and selfless service as an academician. The former and the present faculty, the alumni, and the present students participated in the mass and paid tribute.
Born on March 12, 1957, Fr Swebert had his early education in Udyavar. He did his BSc in St Aloysius College and completed his MSc in Mathematics at Loyola College, Chennai, and MPhil from Madras Christian College, Tambaram. He had his theological studies at Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth, Pune, and Studies in philosophy at Sacred Heart College, Satyanilyam, Chennai. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1975 and was ordained as a Jesuit Priest in 1991.
Fr Swebert was the rector and pro-chancellor of St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, and passed away on November 20, following a massive cardiac arrest at St Philomena Hospital, Bengaluru, at the age of 68. The funeral was held on Saturday, November 22 at St Joseph's University Grounds, Bengaluru. Before his stint as pro-chancellor, he has also served as the director of St Joseph’s College of Law, Bengaluru.
As a jesuit and an academician, he has made a huge difference in lives of huge sections of students and the marginalized. He was responsible for bringing several new courses to St Aloysius institutions and was known for discipline, always believing in doing justice to duty, and courage to help the neglected.