Fr Cyril Desbruslais SJ is no more. He was called to his eternal reward last night (8 September 2025) in Pune. He was 84 years old and sixty years a Jesuit. Yet, Cyril remains “fully young, fully alive,” for he will continue to live in the hearts and minds of many forever.
Cyril leaves behind a legion of friends, admirers, well-wishers, and students. In his earthly pilgrimage, he accompanied, mentored, guided, and inspired thousands from all walks of life—especially the young. Tributes are pouring in from across the country and beyond: from Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor to many others who were shaped by him in their youth; from Jesuit companions to those who once sat in his classrooms. There is a genuine outpouring of grief, but also a profound sense of gratitude for the lasting and positive impact he had on countless lives.
In 2020, Fr Kuruvilla Pandikattu SJ (then Professor of Philosophy at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune) edited a remarkable festschrift to mark Fr Cyril’s 80th birthday. The volume, Fully Human and Fully Alive, a five-hundred–page labour of love, brought together 36 contributions from Jesuit scholars, colleagues, and lay friends. Its introduction captures the essence of Cyril: a man whose philosophy, faith, and friendships inspired people to live “fully alive.”
On September 9 morning, after hearing of Cyril’s passing, I turned once again to this precious work. Re-reading what I had written for it five years ago filled me with warmth, gratitude, and nostalgia for a friend, mentor, guide, and companion who was also like a brother. My essay, titled Fully Young! Fully Alive! The Life and Message of Cyril Desbruslais, seems even more relevant today as we celebrate his life and legacy.
I first met Cyril nearly fifty years ago in the late 1960s at an AICUF (All India Catholic University Federation) camp, when he was a young Jesuit scholastic. From that time on, I saw in him an extraordinary ability to connect with young people. For Cyril, accompaniment was not just a ministry—it was a way of life. Whether through countless conversations over tea after cycling across Pune, through Eucharistic celebrations that were deeply participatory, or through youth organizations like AICUF and SSU, he was always present, always walking alongside. He listened, he challenged, he encouraged, and he believed in young people—especially those ignored by society.
Renewal was central to his vision. Deeply influenced by Vatican II, Pope John XXIII, and his beloved Superior General Pedro Arrupe, Cyril always sought to read the “signs of the times.” He welcomed feedback, even criticism, and constantly pushed for the magis—the greater, deeper response to God’s call. His work was never compartmentalized; it was integrated, holistic, rooted in the conviction that “everything is interconnected.”
Perhaps above all, Cyril was a listener. With patience, empathy, and humility, he opened his heart to the hopes, anxieties, and struggles of the young and the marginalized. He knew that true listening is transformative—for the one who speaks and for the one who hears. For him, listening was not optional. It was a responsibility, a prophetic mandate.
Cyril’s life reflected the very letters of his name: Companionship, Youthfulness, Renewal, Integration, and Listening. These qualities made him a true disciple and a tireless servant of God’s people.
Among the songs he cherished was “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha. Its verses speak of striving for the unreachable star, fighting the unbeatable foe, and remaining true to the quest no matter the cost. Cyril lived that song. He dreamed boldly, loved deeply, and gave himself without reserve.
Today, as we bid farewell to him, we thank God for the gift of his life to the world, to the Church, to the Society of Jesus, and especially to the thousands of young people he accompanied so faithfully. Cyril will always remain with us—fully human, fully young, fully alive.
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*Human rights, reconciliation & peace activist and writer
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