From the editors desk :-

Dear Music lovers,

It is my unique privilege to welcome you once again to ‘Do..Re..Me..Fa..’, your most favourite music column.  In the meantime, I extend my hearty thanks for your continued and whole-hearted response to my previous music chord.  When I decided recently to move to my newly adopted country Canada, there were some doubts in the minds of a few  Do..Re..Me..Fa.. fans that whether this favourite column will continue?  The grace of God and your unstinted support and encouragement keep me going in my mega walk in the vast music arena.. Now, with great pleasure I am presenting to you this musical chord , the first one all the way from a North American state, Canada!

In my usual hunt to present to you a shining star for this month, I found a super star with a handsome personality, a holy look , and a  bubbling enthusiasm. With great joy, I am presenting to you this super music star which is shining brightly in the skies of Konkan music.  This music chord that I am playing now, ironically had no music background nor interest in music until he responded to a Divine Call. He is an ‘Alter Christus’ by profession, dynamic editor of a Konkani monthly and above all is a renowned musician.  This super star whom I am referring to today is none other than Rev.Fr.John Harry D’Souza, a Capuchin priest fondly known as “The Singing Friar”!

As I play this beautiful chord today, you will surely have a great divine experience stuffed with sweet fragrance of music. 

Thank you once again, and see you next month… Same site…. Same column.

Until then bye.

Yours in Do..Re..Me..Fa..,

Gerry D’Mello, Bendur

“THE SINGING FRIAR”

FR. JOHN HARRY D’SOUZA (CAPUCHIN)

“To be very frank, I wasn’t a musician as a boy, neither a good singer. I wasn’t even in the choir group. Once I joined the Capuchins I developed a special interest for music.” These are the very words of Fr. John Harry D’Souza, a well-versed, multi talented Capuchin Friar who is currently the renowned Editor of “SEVAK”, a Konkani monthly periodical published from Mangalore. He is also a popular retreat preacher, a composer of devotional hymns in Konkani and Kannada, and above all a young and devout Friar.

CHILDHOOD DAYS:- 

 On the 4th of February,1969, in the tiny hamlet of Ballur, a ward of the Parish of Our Lady of Nativity, Chickmagalur Diocese, after being blessed by God with two daughters, a son was born to Sri Paul D’Souza and Srimati Lilly Crasta, and they named the child JOHN HARRY.  Though later they had two more sons, Paul and Lilly were very happy with the birth of John Harry and they brought him up with great love and care. 

As a child John Harry grew up like any other ordinary Catholic boy. He had his education up to matriculation in the Laxman Rao Gurjer High School, Javali, Chickmagalur District.  For his Pre-University studies John Harry joined St. Aloysius College, Mangalore. Then he joined the Franciscan Capuchin Seminary and became a Friar. In due course, he earned the Academic degrees of B.A.,B.Ed.  B.Phil({Philosophy), B.Th.(Theology). He also obtained a diploma in Communication & Journalism and learnt the basics of Liturgical and Karnatic music. He was ordained a Capuchin Priest on 31st August 1998. Currently he resides at St. Anne’s Friary, Jail Road, Mangalore-3, and is an editor of “SEVAK” Konkani monthly magazine.

 “THE SINGING FRIAR”:- 

Fr. John Harry had no music background whatsoever in his childhood. He was not even in any choir or music group. His only joyful