St. Paul’s ogranises a number of annual sports events, amongst which the “Rev. Fr. Eddie Memorial Football Tournament.” The tournament, in its 54th year (2021) has been well received by football lovers across Belgaum, and is one of the most eagerly awaited tournaments every year.
The man in whose memory this tournament is established, Fr. Eddie, was the Vice-Principal of St. Paul’s High School, when he passed away in a tragic accident in the year 1965. Having been a good teacher and an excellent sportsman, with great passion for football, Br. Eric D’Silva formed a committee and started this tournament to keep his memories alive, shortly after his death.
A little more about Rev. Fr. Edward (Eddie) Menezes SJ
(Born: 11-04-1920 Died: 11-08-1965)
Rev. Fr. Edward Menezes SJ was fondly known to all the boys of St. Paul’s as ‘Fr. Eddie’. He loved the boys but disliked their faults and short comings. He was a good teacher, a strict disciplinarian, an excellent sportsman and very good in co-curricular activities.
Fr. Eddie completed his high school studies in this very school – St. Paul’s in 1939 and his B.A. from Lingaraj College in 1943 with English and Economics as his main subjects. His favorite subject was English. He was also good in teaching Latin. In his third year at college he was chosen as the Secretary of the Football Committee. After completing twelve years of sincere service as a Jesuit Priest, Fr. Eddie was appointed as Vice-Principal in St. Paul’s, where he gave his best to his Alma Mater till his death.
Fr. Eddie was above all a teacher. He was anxious to get the best out of his pupils. What ever he taught, he taught with whole hearted devotion. Besides book knowledge, Fr. Eddie would prepare his pupils for their whole life, thus enabling them to be men for others and be good useful citizens of the society in the near future. It was because of this that he inculcated in his pupils good virtues like love, honesty, truthfulness and open-hearted sincerity. He always opposed and fought against hypocrisy, dishonesty, injustice and anything that prevented pupils from being good. He always hated sin but never the sinner. Fr. Eddie punished his pupils not because he hated them, he disliked the fault in them. When he was calm, he tried to seek his lost sheep like Jesus did, and would humbly ask pardon.
Like any good teacher Fr. Eddie liked to be in the company of his pupils, always talking to them, motivating and encouraging them. Fr. Eddie was an up-right man and always showed his pupils the right path. He was loyal, unselfish, gentle and kind. Fr. Eddie was good to all who came in contact with him.
In school Fr. Eddie took keen interest in the co-curricular activities. He also took keen interest in the NCC activities and maintained a lively passion for sports.
His beautiful life of service was suddenly brought to an abrupt end when his motor-cycle collided with a military jeep on the evening of Wednesday, 11th August 1965. He was on his way to meet his mother and sister in the Camp Bungalow area. That very morning he had also conducted the daily school assembly.
Hence Rev. Bro. Eric D’Silva SJ began this prestigious football tournament in memory of Rev. Fr. Eddie Menezes – his companion and brother Priest. Bro. Eric is now serving in Miramar, Goa. In the past many years, this football tournament has enabled schools to remain united, explore and encourage sporting football skills of young lads and inculcate good moral values among students. A memorial fund was also raised in his memory to keep alive his works and sports activities in St. Paul’s. Scholarships were provided to deserving and poor students.