We do believe that the past, the present, and the future are interconnected. Yes, both experience and science bear witness to it. But where we lay the emphasis is the most important. There are people who unduly brood over the past and not only waste their time and energy but also get into depression. Wisdom consists in this: Knowing that there is a close relationship between the past and the present, focus on the present with an optimistic vision. 

The Servant of God, Fr. Alfred Roche, had this grace. Swami Dayanand, Jyothiniketan Ashram, Kareli, UP, bears witness to this: “Fr. Alfred was a visionary, a foresighted person. He looked at the future and planned for the future generation; the future of the parish. His first sight fell on the youth and the children. He decided to give importance to the education of the children. He gave all possible support and encouragement to parents to educate them. This was in 1960. Within a couple of decades, one could observe the change in the parish youth.... Today there are so many graduates, post-graduates in our parish.” 

Swami Dayanand is referring to the progress that has come about in the Holy Family Parish, Brahmavar, Diocese of Udupi, due to the foresight of Fr. Alfred Roche. But his vision was wider than that. He toiled for the growth and progress of every child and youth, irrespective of caste and creed. Let us listen to late Mr M. Shivaram Shetty, Retd. Head Master, Matpadi, Brahmavar: “Fr. Alfred scrupulously made it compulsory for the poor children to attend the school. Due to caste and colour, there was sickening restlessness among us. In such a situation, Fr. Roche marched forward to help everyone without any discrimination. This daring attitude of Fr. Alfred was indeed a proof of his godliness....  His simplicity of life and commitment to his duty bore witness to his Saintly Life.” 

In this context Sr. Hilaria, Sacred Heart Convent, Brahmavar (presently Snehalaya, Soluru) would like to add further details: “Fr. Alfred would visit school every day, meet the children and see to their needs.... He was very keen in seeing that the children made progress in their studies. After receiving the progress cards, he would meet them class-wise and take necessary action. He would see to it that poor but intelligent children would go forward in studies... In this way some finished their graduation and more, but he would never reveal who the sponsor was.” 

Mr. Xavier Sebastian Lopes from Lower Kasarkod, Honnavar, is happy to bring to our notice one more important quality of Fr. Roche’s foresighted ministry: “When Fr. Alfred Roche came to our Lower Kasarkod church, I was a youth.... As he took up the apostolate in our parish, dedicated to St. Joseph, he won over the children and the youth because of his loving approach. Quite a few boys and girls, having discontinued their studies, were going for coolie work (i.e., drying fish) ..... Fr. Roche met them and gently guided them to resume their studies. On account of the loving approach of Fr. Roche, many children and youth continued their studies and some of them have become priests and sisters, and many of them, having done higher studies, have got high posts in our society.”