PANAJI: “Goodbye to you my trusted friend,” words from a song sung by sweet kids of the age group seven and below to their community priest Reverend Father George Quardoz , kneading him to stay.

So melodious and sweet was the music and lyrics it touched the hearts with a tear drop from the  community member present at the farewell Sunday service in Don Bosco Chapel, Fatorda.
Rev Father George, an amazing priest in his three years tenor, has accomplished the construction of a beautiful chapel with a stunning alter; woken up a laid-back neighborhood into a vibrant community, was instrumental in promoting a technical school to ITI, and now turned into an engineering college, which will be Margao’s first, and his influential charm has increase attendance at Mass, are just a few of his feat.
“You are like a radiant rainbow to us empowering the community,” said Mr Hilary D’Souza, a community leader in a farewell speech. The community is made up of retired colonel Rodgrigues, doctors, legal advisers, lawyers, judges, teachers, managers and social workers, among others. They sacrifice their bit to the community without frills or recognitions and are whole heartedly behind Don Bosco community mission.
Fr. George had a vision, based on the principal of reason, religion and loving kindness. He said initially the Don Bosco institute has grown from non-formal to formal in the technical field of welding, fitting, plumbing and other essential professions. Then it moved to formal and ITI approved courses by the Government. But the demand by the youngsters has gone down tremendously and the result is the engineering college including the streams chosen.
“We have come to the conclusion, that our Goan students need at this time has come into reality,” he told the Navhind Times. Don Bosco caters to all groups of youngsters in various categories upper schools, primary schools and those not interested in further studies. In the changing face of the locality DB started a mobile school catering to street kids in remote areas. “There’s a demand for DB technical, DB ITI and am sure there’s going to be corporate demand for DB engineering,” he enthused.
The Fatorda Don Bosco community rates him as a gifted priest, a talented preacher and a brilliant scholar. Now as the new rector of Quepem Don Bosco, he has passed on the baton to Reverend Father Kinsley.