Tue 9 Jul 2013
Posted by Helen
[11] Comments Now leave your comment!
Last Monday we had an absolutely terrible call from our friend, Barbara, in Goa.
Jacinta Fernandes, the wonderful and talented headmistress of Our Lady of Rosary School in Mandrem had been sadly killed in a road traffic accident as she made her way home from the school.
Some of you had met her, all of you have read on this blog how much we thought of her.
Jacinta was first introduced to us about eight years ago and single-handedly inspired the start of our Helping Elsewhere journey. Although maybe she needed some help with a bit of our funding, she was the lady that made our little school fly. She encouraged pupils to fulfil their potential whether it was educational, personal or spiritual.
She also had time in her busy life to work with youth projects in Mapusa (the chief town of North Goa) outside of school times. She was a wife and mother too.
Saying people are irreplaceable is often overused, but in Jacinta’s case I truly believe that is true. She will be severely missed by everyone.
Helping Elsewhere will be donating a set of encyclopedias in Jacinta’s memory to the school as I know it was her dream to have a full set in their library. Donations are of course welcome for this special ring-fenced project.
RIP Jacinta.
We were so saddened to hear of Jacinta’s untimely death and our thoughts are with the families of Mandrem who will miss her deeply. We salute the woman who has been an inspiration to not only the people of Mandrem but, through the work of Helping Elsewhere, worldwide as we have followed the development and the flourishing of this tiny community and it’s school. May her inspiration and vision continue and her name be remembered.
I am so sorry for the loss at this sad and upsetting time for all those whom had her in their lives.
Her memory will forever be with you all and should you of not known her your lives you would all be missing the enrichment she gave. Keep her with you always her spirit will always be around.
Thoughts for you all. Jo Bennett
This is really tragic news. As you say Helen she was a real inspiration and her loss will effect all who knew her.
My thoughts are with Jacinta’s family, friends and her school children, what tragic news. As you say she will be sadly missed.
I’m so very saddened to hear about Jacinta’s death . How very very sad , not only for her family , her pupils n all of us who have been connected with the lovely little school in Mandrem n one that we made our own . I’m just so terribly sad .
Just want to say how sorry I am to hear the sad news of Jacinta – so upsetting.
How & why do these things happen to such good people? 🙁 Just hope her legacy lives on in Mandrem School.
Sorry I wish I had come over Sunday – too wrapped up in my own problems. God this puts things into perspective now!!! Life is just too short.
What dreadful and very sad news to hear and I know that you both will be
very upset by this tragic loss. A lady of her standing in a community like
that will leave a major gap and I am sure a very grieving community. We
sometimes wonder why it is people like her that are taken but I believe that
it is so that her works will be more appreciated and the seed that she sowed
will now flourish into a far greater project because more people will want
to get involved as a tribute to her.
May she rest in peace.
How devastating for you all and of course her family.My heart and thoughts are with you and Colin Helen.
I’d just like to publicly place on record my thanks to all of you for sharing (by blog posts and email) Goa’s pain in this devastating time for Jacinta’s family and school.
Colin and I have been very touched indeed.
Very good heart-throbbing message being made known on the net. God bless you.
All that is mentioned is very true. It is very applicable to Jacinta.
So very sorry to hear the news – Jacinta was such an inspiration and will be sorely missed but everyone who knew her at home and at school.