Extract of: TALK BY MONSIGNOR TERENCE
F. D'SOUZA AT INTERNATIONAL GOAN CONVENTION - University of Toronto
- Mississauga Campus
By Jack Fernandes
My paternal great grandfather, John Baptist D'Souza, was the first Goan
to come to Karachi in 1850. I did a lot of research into my family, and
was amazed at the thrust of the past. It made me reflect upon our own
present thrust that is now of vital importance if we are to impact our
future as a people. An example of this is borne out in the fact that, in
1913, the City of Karachi named a street, "Pedro D'Souza Road", after my
paternal grandfather, Pedro D'Souza, in recognition of his personal
contribution to the civic life of the City. In 1999, the City of
Mississauga named a street after me, "Father D'Souza Drive" to recognize
my own contribution to the City. This street is located along the south
side of St. Francis Xavier Church.
In the late 19th century, the Goan community in Karachi was very
vibrant. One from that community, D. X. Menezes, was the first Goan to
arrive in Mombasa from Karachi in 1894. In 1899, the legendary Dr.
Rozendo Ribeiro arrived in Mombasa, but moved on to settle in Nairobi,
to become that city's first medical practitioner. In 1902, he
successfully diagnosed the then little-known bubonic plague, and was
largely responsible for the prevention of the epidemic that otherwise
might have ensued. Aware that progress can only come with education, he
was instrumental in setting up the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School, whose many
alumni won distinction around the world.
Frank and Virgie DeSouza, of fond memory, were the first Goan couple to
tie the knot in Entebbe in 1942. Two of my cousins, Michael Barretto and
Philip D'Silva, were the first Goans to come to Toronto in 1952 from
Karachi. Desmond Rodrigues of Kent in the United Kingdom was the first
Goan pilot to fly the supersonic Concorde. Lester J. DaCosta was the
first Goan lawyer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He also had the rare
distinction of being the first Goan to be called to the U.S. Supreme
Court.
(Contributed by Jack Fernandes
jack.fernandes@aku.edu )
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