Fr. Stan Swamy: A Liberated Bird Sings from Heaven !
We are deeply pained to inform you that Fr. Stan Swamy SJ, aged 84, entered his eternal abode on July 5, 2021 at 13.30 hrs (Indian Time) at Holy Family hospital in Mumbai, India.
Stan was truly a prophet who lived his life fully for others particularly the adivasis, dalits and other marginalized communities. While in prison he said, “A caged bird can still sing” and sowed ‘hope’ in the hearts of everyone. Today he is a liberated bird who sings from heaven calling each of us to keep alive that hope for true liberation from injustice, oppression and denial of rights.
Stan became a conscience keeper and awakened the hope in everyone. We remember and thank all those who prayed, campaigned and advocated for him and for all others in similar cases who are denied of their human dignity and rights.
We sincerely thank God for the life of Fr. Stan Swamy, who broke himself and suffered so that others may have life, life in abundance. We are confident that he will ‘not be a silent spectator even from heaven’. He will continue to stand with each one of us to help us ‘to speak truth to power’ and to dedicate our lives for the poor and marginalized.
May God accompany and help live our lives fully and, following the example of Stan, to stand with the marginalized and the poor in our quest for justice, equality and freedom!
Let us join together to thank God for the life of Stan!
Xavier Jeyaraj, SJ Secretary, SJES-Rome
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