Father Cajetan D’Mello was born on May 9, 1959 at Tivim, Goa to Mr. Victor D’Mello and Mrs. Maria Victor D’Mello. He has 2 brothers and 3 sisters. He joined the SVD at St. Xavier’s Ashram, Goa in 1973, took first vows in 1983, pronounced final vows in 1988 at Divine Word Seminary, Pune and was ordained a priest in 1989 by Most Rev. Archbishop Rau Gonsalves. He started his priestly life as an assistant parish priest at St. Joseph’s Church, Dahod (Gujarat) for one year and the rest of the years are totally dedicated to education apostolate. When he was asked about his life, he answered, “My hardworking and prayerful mother and one of my male neighbours who was very simple, hardworking and disciplined in his lifestyle inspired me. Late Fr. Peter Verhalen (Prayer and work) and a sister teacher from Chhatisgarh, teaching Hindi in my earlier convent school days influenced me. She was a very simple soul and through her quietness displayed a very caring attitude, personal approach and loving attitude towards me. I could develop from a very initial stage a high sense of punctuality, prayerfulness and hard work. I could avoid a parochial mind set and a ghetto mentality. Loss of my father at a very young age i.e, when I was in Class XII confused me. At that moment, I had to make a decisive choice whether to come to Palda or not. Ever since that moment, I have never ever looked back at the decision I made.

As an SVD priest he has held various important positions since 1989 such as President of Indore Catholic Schools Association (ICSA) for a 3-year term, Executive Body Member of Indore Sahodaya Schools Complex, Indore and served as the Parish Priest in St. Arnold’s Parish, Vijaynagar, Indore – M.P. for around 3 years. He has served in St. Arnold’s School in various capacities since its very inception mostly as the Principal. For a while, he had taken a break of 2 years from his duties in St. Arnold’s School and Parish, Vijaynagar, Indore to pursue his post graduate studies in counseling at Manila, Phillippines. At present, he is appointed as the SVD INC Province Education Secretary.

He is a good orator, able administrator and sportsman having a special flair for games like basketball, table tennis, volleyball as well as football. He is a loving, caring, hardworking and dynamic person with a prayerful and docile nature.

St. Arnold’s Hr. Sec. School began its humble journey in 1990 with 90 children and at present the strength of our school has grown to almost 3000 students. We further intend to open up new sections in the Primary section during the Session: 2015–2016 for which the construction of classrooms has already been done. Our school has been a Centre for the CBSE Class-X and XII Board Exams for the past 4 years and also a Centre for various other prestigious competitive exams like JEE, AIPMT and bank exams etc. As the school is located in nature’s lap in a peaceful, calm and quiet vicinity, it offers a conducive atmosphere for learning. The prestigious 1st St. Arnold’s Basketball Trophy was first instituted in our school in the year 2011 in honour of the school founder and patron St. Arnold Janssen and we have continued the tradition of conducting this tournament every year since then.

In my own simple little way, I would like to spread the fragrance of God’s love to all those I come in contact with me.” His inspiring verse from the Bible is “I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance.” (John:10-10)