Reflections on humanity

Cecília Jorge

Bearing a name that reminds us of the ideals of the Round Table and the Saint Graal, Lancelote Rodrigues, born in Malacca, has been in Macau since he was barely 12-years old, which means…forever.
He has left an indelible mark on this town-turned-thriving city.
There are few figures who manage to gather the kind of consensus from fellow residents, included or not in what is usually called a ‘flock’ in religious jargon: his Macanese ‘flock’.
This column ‘Our Desk’ written alternately by each one of the journalists who toil daily in MDTimes’ newsroom is usually centered on events, situations, problems and faits-divers that have to do with Macau. It has never focused on one person only, but in this case, I feel I can make an exception.
And that, because this particular person – Irish, Portuguese, Malay and Dutch – gathers within himself a whole world of events, since the day he arrived in 1935 to be trained as a priest at St. Joseph’s Seminary. And if Lancelote Rodrigues chose to be persuaded to one day record his memories and impressions, the History of Macau would be surely a lot richer.
Father Lancelote, now aged over 80, stood always at the hard side of the barrier carrying out charitable work. During the Pacific War, WWII, when this ‘neutral’ city became over populated with refugees escaping from the raging conflict, persecution and hunger, he was always on hand to help and there are few among the former refugees still living who cannot recall his ability to always find the aid and funds needed. He put his altruistic and generous nature to work again in later years as a second wave of refugees from Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) once again tested the efforts of aid workers in this small place that was already bursting with population and lack of supplies.
A true missionary does not judge human beings nor distinguishes among the well-behaved and sinners when providing help. There was always enough going to a needy one.
This Padre’s approach to people has always been different to what we usually expect from ‘clergy’.  He was defined in 1993 by a Portuguese journalist  – positively struck by his personality – as one “padre das Arábias” an expression hard to translate into English but one that might be simply put as an “unbelievable person”. Thus, he “defends the idea of Heaven on Earth and believes that the great gifts of God cannot only be for the rich. He sings, drinks, smokes and gets along with both believers and atheists. And he is always there when needed” – the journalist’s short explanation for the “unbelievable” Lancelote.
Truth is, “our” extrovert Father Lancelote’s way to deal with people is steeped in warmth and joy. The sheer “explosive” kind of laughter we got used to and his tenor voice, loud and clear, is enough medicine for the soul, even when not in need of something material.
A well-known figure in Macau, he is much admired and respected by all up to this day. Father Lancelote was honoured last Saturday by the Associação dos Macaenses (ADM) that hosted a “homely” dinner to mark his lifelong work doing charity and helping Macau people.
“Don’t talk about me !!! No need to talk about me!…” he shouted when I greeted him, telling him I was being asked to say a few words on TV.
Quite typical of him. Quite unusual in Macau.
Leading us to a true reflection on altruism, and humanity.