Mangaluru, : Fr Ronnie Prabhu, former rector of city’s St Aloysius College, passed away on Tuesday August 18 at St Philomena Hospital in Bengaluru due to cancer. He was 75.

Born on April 9, 1940 at Kodialbail in Mangaluru, Fr Ronnie Prabhu studied at St Aloysius College and joined the Society of Jesus in 1957.

He was ordained priest on February 23, 1970. He served as rector of St Aloysius College from 1980 to 1986, and during his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the St Aloysius Boys’ Home and Industrial Technical Institute. In 1986, he took over as rector of St Joseph’s College, Bengaluru and from 1992 to 1998, he served as rector of Mount St Joseph College, Bengaluru.

From 1998 to 2004, he was the provincial of Karnataka Jesuits, during which he initiated the Jesuit Mission to Manvi in Raichur and Vijaypura. As the provincial he was instrumental in starting a CBSC school for the underprivileged in Raichur district which has now bloomed into a full-fledged college. He served as director of Fatima Retreat House in Mangaluru.

He was appointed PRO of Archdiocese of Bengaluru three years ago, and at the time of his demise was serving as PRO of all the dioceses of Karnataka, the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council and the Karnataka Jesuits as well.

He was known for initiating inter-religious dialogue with Aashirvadcentre for interfaith dialogue which he set up in 1970 and where conducted annual meets. He maintained excellent rapport with leaders of Lingayat and Okkaliga communities and also with PejawarSwamiji, DharmasthalaDharmadhikariDr D VeerendraHeggade and religious heads of other faiths across the state of Karnataka. In his death the state has lost a champion of religious harmony.

Fr Ronnie was recently nominated for the IIPP Award for ‘Outstanding Community Leaders of Mangaluru’ which he was to receive sometime this year.FrRony will be in the hearts of many for his commendable community service

The funeral mass will be held on Thursday August 20 at 9 am at St Joseph’s Boys’ High School Chapel, Museum Road, Bengaluru. Soon after, the mortal remains will be taken to Mount St Joseph, Bannerghatta Road for burial.