My contact with brother Simon started from the year 1995 when we had initiated for a Konkani Retreat through Koncab. That was the time our formation of the New Group – Little Stars for Christ was happening. During 1996 we had a fasting prayer in our house at Sevanagar and the confirmation came from our Elders in Christ to go on in starting the group. Br Simon was the backbone to our group and was the one who gifted me with the first Letter Head. He visited to my Bank at M.G.Road where I was working at that time, handed over the Letter Head pad and said please go ahead with your Ministry, we will support you prayerfully. Later on he only suggested us to open a Trust during 2001.
Later on he was actually forcing me to bring out a small Newsletter of our group. Prayerfully the name was given Morning Star in English and Udhaya Kalada Nakshatra in Kannada. He was the one who recommended us to Renewal Retreat Centre, Bangalore where we served as a group for nearly seven years. We used to conduct Retreats for Children, Teachers, Rev Sisters, Brothers in the Seminaries. He is used to join us in the preaching team. In the beginning of our friendship, he is to invite us to his home town Katapadi to conduct prayer meetings in Gethsemane.
During the year 1997 the Lord was inspiring me to go for full time Ministry. I was preparing myself, at that time our br Simon stood as a strong pillar in encouraging me to resign the job in the Bank and go for full time Ministry. Prayerfully I prepared myself, prepared my family and during the year 2001 in the month of March, I came out of the Bank. No regrets for coming out from the job, by that time we were about 15 families working together and the Ministry was on fire. We used to take up Retreats in four languages – English, Kannada, Tamil and Konkani, in Schools, Colleges, Parishes, Retreat Centers, etc.
All the time Br Simon used to be in the preaching team, guiding us even regarding the Talks to be shared. Now in the main Core team myself, Br Daniel, Br Augustine, Br Anthonyraj, Br Rocky, Sister Shelly, Sister Angel Bhagyanathan and Fr Arogyanathan, MSFS as a spiritual guide. Prayerfully we have also started 2nd line Core team under the guidance of Br Simon. We have nine active members in this group.
On and on I can keep on telling about brother Simon. In all our Ministry matters, family matters or any other general matters we used to meet our loving brother and he used to prayerfully suggest the right thing for us to proceed in the said matter. Only the main things I remember I have brought out here, so many other things he has done for us prayerfully.
During the time he was admitted in the Hospital for Covid, myself, Br Daniel, Br Nigel, Sr Jyothi & others also, used to pray daily with much burden that he should come back & stand amongst the people as a great witness & share his talks more powerfully. But the plan of God was to take him to the heavenly abode. He finished his race very successfully & he is crowned with the Crown of Glory. We have to continue the good work which he has started.
Hats off to you dear brother, all of us have lost a precious jewel in our loving brother Simon. Surely we will meet you in Heaven after we complete our journey on this earth. Bye my dear loving brother.