Father Noel Francis D’Souza, former headmaster and rector of St Lawrence School and a former teacher of St Xavier’s Collegiate School, passed away on Sunday.

He was 87. He had spent 65 years in the Society of Jesus.

He had been the Provincial of Calcutta Jesuit Province and rector of De Nobili College, Pune (Jesuit formation centre), and the regional assistant to Father General in Rome.

“As a person he was very conscientious and hard working. He was a humble person and simple in his lifestyle. He was a meticulous and serious thinker and, at the same time, he was a deeply spiritual man, very concerned about people and cared for them,” said Father Dominic Savio, principal, St Xavier’s College.

The funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday at 10am at St Xavier’s College, followed by burial at Dhyan Ashram near Thakurpukur, Behala.