By Amrit Sangma, PR and Communication Officer

On our way to Kashmir, I had asked Fr. Frederick D’Souza ‘How long will it take before Caritas India can get it first Woman Director?’

The answer he gave was not definite. But what I could guess is that he has sown the seeds. In the past one decade and especially in the last 6 years as Executive Director of Caritas India, I have seen he has installed key positions in the hands of women leaders – which is unprecedented in Caritas India.

According to the HR’s book of record, out of the 29 managerial positions in the organization in 2017, 10 are held by women – including that of the human resource department.

This is not to underestimate any efforts made by former executive directors in this direction but it is during Fr. Frederick’s tenure that Caritas India have seen much progress, setting a precedence for the successors of his position in the years ahead.

Fr. Frederick was first introduced to Caritas through a DDC in 1986 in Patna. DDC or Development Dynamics Course used to a 3-month long course then on social work organized by Caritas India. The course continues even today but is not longer than a month.

After the DDC course, Fr. D’Souza was inspired to take up further studies. He officially boarded the Caritas network as Executive Director in Delhi based NGO called Chetnalaya in 2002. He simultaneously become the General Body member and a member of the Project Selection Committee in Caritas India.

During this same time, he was instrumental in forming the Delhi Forum, a regional network of six local NGOs in Northern India.

He took over as Deputy Director of Caritas India in 2006. He succeeded Fr. Varghese Mattamana in 2012 as Executive Director of Caritas India. He rose to popularity for his command and appeal in Hindi and Urdu Shayaris.

He will be known for making Caritas ‘a staff driven organization’, for brining diversity, with staff from all corners of India.

The staff at Caritas love him for promoting culture of love rather than fear. And if not more, he gave equal power to women in Caritas.

In the words of Fr. Joseph Chinnaiyan, the former Dy. Secretary General of CBCI, “Fr. Frederick as an administrator takes people into confidence – allows sharing of responsibility – but at the same time – he knows to keep things well within his control – and that he has been prepared (by God) for greater responsibilities.”

He has given back to God the talents he has received.  And as communicator, he can turn “breeze into a storm and storm into a breeze”, Fr. Chinnaiyan explained.

The world is a journey; in here, we meet and part with many sojourners. Some of whom leave profound influence on our lives. In this video, Caritas invites you to witness a glimpse of one such journey- where Fr. Frederick D’Souza has executed a catalytic role.

Transformation or change is like the hour hand of a wall cloak – we do not get to see it move. Or it is like a seed planted by someone without expectation of the fruit from the tree. Change comes when you are least expecting. And the agents for such changes do not always get the world recognition. For instance, nobody wanted to accept Jesus, 2000 years ago especially when he spoke standing in the synagogues – it appeared he went against some the well-established doctrines.