BR C J HARRISON'S FUNERAL

REV. BRO. CEDRIC JUSTINIAN HARRISON
Birth:20-2-1924

Final Profession:1949

Death 17-11-2008

NEWS FROM OUR REGIONAL LEADER

This is being written with a certain sense of sadness and helplessness. On the 18th of this month, a wonderful Christian Brother- Br.Jus Harrison -passed away in SMRC hospital at about 9.55 am. I had been waiting outside the ICU till 9.45 and was just walking back to the school when we got the news that Br. C. J. Harrison was dying. Before I could get back, Jus had slipped away quietly to his beloved Father. He suffered much in his last days in Shanti Nivas. Before that he had been a source of great strength, inspiration and cheerfulness to all the Brothers and visitors who came to see our Senior Brothers. At the Memorial Service held in the undercroft of the school, there were about 150 people who came at short notice to pay their respects to this compassionate, loving Brother. I am sure there will be sev-eral tributes written about him in publications in different parts of the world. We, who were with him for the last 8 years of his life in Goa, will greatly miss him. Jus was buried in Bajpe, a place he loved and where he was loved by so many people. May his life continue to inspire us in the years to come.

A TRIBUTE TO BR C J HARRISON

The first reading in today's memorial service speaks of an appointed time for everything. This is the time appointed by God for us to pay a tribute to a very special person - Br. Jus Harrison. A Christian Brother who was compassionate, loving and who touched the hearts of all those he came in contact with.

Jus was born on the 20th February 1924 in Australia. He came to India in 1955 and has since then been a Brother to countless people. The Gospel reading that we have just heard speaks about the grain of wheat that dies to yield a great harvest. And that is what Jus did. He gave his life in service for others. And what a wonderful harvest he reaped.

During the course of his ministry in various Chris-tian Brother Institutions in India, he served as the First Christian Brother Principal in our Junior Col-lege in Bajpe, Mangalore, Superior and Principal in our school in Bow Bazaar, Kolkata,. Superior in DumDum, Kolkata and Director of our Juvenates in Vasai and Bajpe. In all these ministries, he was a man for others. He helped many of his students to get ahead in life, many Anglo Indian families to emigrate to Australia - and no poor person who came to him was ever turned away empty handed. Jus was often taken for a ride by people who conned him but he always gave people the benefit of the doubt. Because he firmly believed that every person was his brother and sister and hence had to be treated with dignity and respect.

A favorite text of mine is from the Prophet Micah, Chapter 6, verse 8 “This is what God asks of you. - To act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” Jus for me was a living personifi-cation of this text. In his role as Principal in our schools, he was just and fair in his dealings with his students when it came to maters of discipline. He loved everyone with a tender heart and he was a deeply spiritual person. So often when I came to the Senior Brothers Home, I would find Jus at prayer.

Our Gospel reading has been very appropriately taken from the Gospel of St. John. St. John was the disciple that Jesus loved in a special way. There is a story told about John that whenever he spoke, he only spoke about loving one another. When ques-tioned about this, John is reported to have said that this was the only message that he received from his Lord and Master - To love one another just as my Lord and Master loved me.
I believe that Br Harrison's life has a message for all of us -To love one another just as he loved us.

BR C J HARRISON GETS EXTRAORDINARY FAREWELL

GENESIS 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee.

Br. Cedric Justinian Harrison was called to a Christian Brother way of life in a similar manner. He was called to leave his own home country, his parents, brothers and sisters in Australia and come to India, into a new land, a new culture and new people. He first arrived in Calcutta in the month of March 1955 and since then he made his home in St. Vincent's Asansol, St. Joseph's Bow Bazar, St. Mary's Dum Dum, The Juvenate in Vasai, St. Joseph's Bajpe and Shanti Niwas.

His students called him Br. Harrison, in his home circle he was known as Bill, to some people in Australia and India he was Br. Harry and to the Monks he was Jus. There is no doubt, that Jus poured his heart into everything. He was talented and could take on any ministry which was assigned to him. He taught with great passion and taught the young Brothers how to teach. He enjoyed sports and got the young ones to do the same. He was also committed to his daily prayer through which he drew his strength to reach out to everyone who was in need.

Jus was the pioneer Principal of St. Joseph's P.U. College, and at a later stage he was also the Correspondent of the College. The other two pioneers along with Jus were Wilfy and (L) Elphege Mc Loughlin. All three of them lived a simple life-style together with (L) Fr. Bernard who was the Principal at the time. Though language was a bar-rier, it did not deter them from interacting with the parents of students in the College as well as the lo-cal people in the village. Jus became very close to the people through his gentle nature, a genuine love for people through his interaction and also through his attractive personality.

As soon as we heard that Jus was not keeping too well the Parish Priest in Bajpe Fr. Mathias Pereira and the Asst. Parish Priest Fr. Anil D'Silva made announcements in the Church and many continued to pray for him. Approximately a week be-fore Jus died, we had a chance to meet Jus. We had to go to Goa for the Re-structuring meet. The Parish Priest and the Asst. Parish Priest came with us along with some parishioners to meet Jus. He could recognize each and every one of us and he did en-quire about his friends in Bajpe. We enjoyed the evening with Jus where he initiated the singing of Waltzing Matilda - and sang it flawlessly for Br. Kevin Ryan who was present at the gathering.

The people kept enquiring about Br. C. J. Harrison and when they heard that he had gone into coma, all of them were heartbroken. All the ex-pupils, the priests and the religious kept praying for him during his last few days.
Br. Jus Harrison passed away peacefully on the 18th November 2008. Br. Steve Fernandes informed us immediately and Jason the community Leader and the entire Community in Goa and the PLT as well as the RLT were gracious enough to allow his burial in Bajpe, where he had spent 12 years and was well loved by the people of the Par-ish. Br. William D'Souza and Br. Steve Fernandes brought the body to Bajpe the following morning at 6.00 am. Br. Walter and Mrs. Dulcine Dias and Ann Martins came for the funeral from Goa. One of his ex-students Juliet Correa came all the way from Dubai by the night flight ; ex-students came from Bangalore and further afield.
Before the Body of Jus could arrive in Bajpe the Bethany Sisters helped us in preparing the hall and the Maids of the Poor supported us. All the staff members were involved in planning the lit-urgy. The Vice-President and the Secretary of the Parish took care of all the arrangements at the Church and the Cemetery. The Parish Priest himself contacted the Bishop of Mangalore and informed him about the mass arrangements. At such short notice there were about 14 priests who participated in the funeral Mass. The Church was filled to its capacity to bid final farewell to Jus Harrison. Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore and V.G. Rev. Fr. Denis Moras Prabhu spoke highly of Jus.
Finally the body of Jus was brought in a procession and taken to the Bajpe cemetery and buried in the same grave where Br. Elphege and Br. Vincent were buried. Many people came and paid their last respects to Jus. People of Bajpe will never forget Jus. Many of them who were taught by him still remember things like his handwriting classes but most of all, for being a true brother and true friend.

FUNERAL ORATION BY RT. REV. MSGR. DENIS MORAS PRABHU

31 years ago at 1.00p.m. Bro. Harrison and Bro. Wilfred arrived at the Railway Station Mangalore on 26-5-1977. It was a very warm day. I was at the Railway Station waiting for them along with Fr. Bernard D’ Souza. Handsome in looks and affectionate in his dealings, generous and compassionate towards others, friendly with anyone and with everyone Bro. Harrison won the Hearts and minds of hundreds of students and people of Bajpe and its surroundings. Though he was in a small village in Bajpe his vision was very broad and his outlook was cosmopolitan. He became a member of the families of Bajpe. Though he did not pick up the local languages he could by his smiles, body language communicate with any person. People asked him how he was and he replied in Konkanni language or Kannada language. Bro. Harrison is remembered by hundreds of students in Bajpe and he is remembered by people of all faiths with love and affection. He set an example to the Brothers in the Community and he edified and inspired the youth and once he told me that more than 42 boys had joined the Christian Brothers Congregation and today there are 23 Brothers who are actively engaged in the Mission of Christ who joined the Congregation because of him. All the brothers living in the Bajpe Christian Brothers House except one were taught by him in the school. The Brothers trained by him are holding very responsible Port folios in the Congregation.

Bro. Harrison was born on 22-2-1924 to a Holy couple Cedrick and Catherine in Sydney, Austalia. He was one of the 11 children to his parents. 5 are dead and 6 are alive( 4 brothers and 2 sisters). Brothers alive : Eric, Terry, Stan, and Peter. Sisters alive: Evon and Marie. Due to the God fearing and good parents Brother took a very bold step to join the Congregation of Christian Brothers on 26-1-1940. He made his Final profession in 1949. He came to India in March 1955. He landed in West Bengal in Aasansol. He began to work in St. Vincent Technical School from 1955 to 1959. He was a Superintendent of the same school from September 12, 1959 to 1974. He went to his tertianship to Rome .He came to Bajpe as a pioneer and became the Principal on 1-6-1977. He was the first Superior and first Brother Principal of the School. In 1984 he was transferred as a Superior and Principal of St. Joseph’s College, Calcutta. He became the Superior of St. Mary’s School in Dum Dum, Calcutta. He returned to Bajpe in 1992. He went to Vasai Mumbai in 1995 and once again he returned to Bajpe in 1998. His last transfer was as Director of Shanthi Nivas Goa (Home for the Senior Brothers) in 2000.

Brother was a Missionary. He gave himself totally to Christ and the people with whom he lived and moved. Since he lived in Bajpe in three terms one could make out how his life was in other parts of the country. When he was in Calcutta I visited him and when he was in Goa I visited him there. I asked him which place that enchanted him more. He replied he liked Bajpe and the people at Bajpe more than anywhere else. This is the reason why God has planned to get his mortal remains to Bajpe so that he could rest peacefully with the people he loved to rise on the day of resurrection. He is awaiting for the glorious resurrection when our Lord will come on the clouds to reward each one according to his merits. Till then our Brother will be among the people of Bajpe. He used to say that his joy was to be among the people. Therefore he never missed any programme in and around Bajpe, whether it was organized by Christians or by other faiths. He became the member of the Lions Club of Bajpe in which there were members of other faiths. The religion was not a matter of distance from others but his love which built bridges with people with all walks of life. He was an invitee at every function be it of the Institution or of the family. Today so many of his students highly placed in Society in India and abroad who fondly remember Bro. Harrison. He gave good direction to his students. Many told me that they could speak good English because of Brother. Since he did not know any other language than English there was no option for the students to speak other than English. It is to be noted that many girls who were his students became Nuns.

He enriched Bajpe; in turn he too was enriched by love and affection, respect and honour he received from the people around him. No doubt he spent his precious years in Bajpe. He loved India as a Missionary, loved Bajpe in life and in death and therefore he is rewarded to rest in death with the people of the place whom he loved. We thank his parents and pray for them for their precious gift of a child to the church to India and to the people of Bajpe. We thank his brothers and sisters who should be proud of their dear brother. We who are living here gathered in his church bid goodbye to Bro. Harrison till we meet again on the shores of Heaven when our journey is over.

Goodbye dear Brother. God be with you till we meet again.


Funeral Oration given by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu, Vicar General of the diocese of Mangalore on 18-11-2008 at 5.00p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Bajpe, Mangalore. The funeral mass was officiated by Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore, Concelebration by the Vicar General, Parish Clergy and many other Priests. The Mass was attended by many Rev. Sisters and a overwhelming crowd. The burial rites were conducted by the Vicar General.

THANK YOU ALL

We Christian Brothers are grateful to Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, for making the time to offer the Mass for the Repose of the soul of Br. C.J. Harrison. His Lordship has always been supportive of the Christian Brothers in this diocese.

We also remember Br. Harrison’s family, though they are not present at this funeral ceremony, they have been present in spirit with us. They are definitely praying with us.

We express our gratitude to our V.G.Very Rev.Fr. Denis Moras Prabhu for giving the Eulogy. Being the parishioner of Bajpe church, he has known Br. Harrison for many many years and I am told that he was the one who met the Pioneering team Br. Harrison and Br. Wilfred when they first came here in 1977.

We thank all the Priests who have concelebrated today. I acknowledge their support and help. We also remember in gratitude all the Varado Priests and the Viccar Var, Rev Fr. John Medonca for joining us in our bereavement.

We specially thank our Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Mathias Pereira and our Asst. Parish Priest, Fr. Anil D’Silva for their constant support to us and being able to make the time to visit Br. Harrison in his sickness along with the representatives from our Parish. Br. Harrison had the opportunity to take part in a meaningful Eucharistic celebration with them and Br. Harrison was grateful to receive communion from our Parish Priest.

We are grateful to the Provincial,The Regional and the council members. We also thank the Goa community, who have looked after Br. Harrison for so many years. We are grateful to them for allowing the funeral to take place here in Bajpe. We also express our gratitude to our Deputy Regional Br. Steve Fernandes and all the Christian Brothers who are present here.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the sisters of Nazareth Convent, Nazareth Home and also the Maids of the poor. Br. Harrison was very close to them and visited them whenever he came to Bajpe. We thank the Bethany sisters and the candidates for preparing the hall and the church.

The Christian Brothers are grateful to the vice President of the Parish Council, and all the members. Our thanks also goes to all the Gurkars, for planning and informing the local people of Bajpe.

We express our gratitude to Gurkar of St. Peter’s ward and all the ward members for their co-operation and support.

We extend our appreciation to all the staff members of St. Joseph’s P.U. College Bajpe for everything that they have done for the funeral.

We express our thanks to the Parish Choir of Bajpe for making this Eucharistic Celebration meaningful through their melodious singing.

We thank all those who sent condolence messages and Floral Tributes especially our ex-students both in India and abroad.