Five New Priests Ordained for Diocese of Mangalore
Fr Victor Vijay Lobo
Director, Canara Communication Centre
Mangalore, Apr 18: Five deacons for the diocese of Mangalore were ordained priests on Tuesday April 17 at 9.30 am by Dr Aloysius D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore diocese.
The ordination ceremony was held at Our Lady of Rosario Church here in the presence of near and dear ones of the newly-ordained and hundreds of devotees. More than 100 priests, nuns and religious brothers and sisters were present on the occasion.
Bishop in his homily highlighted the need of vocations today. He gave a call to the gathering to pray for the vocations so that the community may get more young men and women to serve the Lord and carry on his mission in the Church.
Later the newly ordained priests concelebrated the holy Eucharist with the bishop. Fr Boniface Pinto, director of Mangala Jyothi, Diocesan Biblical and Catechetical Centre animated the Liturgy.
After the Eucharist a short felicitation programme was organized by the diocese. Fr Henry Sequeira, chancellor of the diocese introduced the newly ordained priests and wished them well.
Dr Aloysius D’Souza presided over the felicitation programme and greeted the new priests and thanked their parents for being generous to give their sons to the diocese to serve as priests. Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, vicar genereal of the diocese and Fr Ronald Serrao from St Joseph’s Seminary were present on the dais. Fr Patrick Sequiera, one of the new priests, expressed gratitude on behalf of the newly ordained priests.
The newly ordained priests are Fr Patrick Sequeira, Modankap parish, Fr Edwin Monis Beltangady parish, Fr Praveen D’Souza, Kumbla parish, Fr Melwin D’Souza, Maniampare parish, and Fr Paul Crasta, Arva parish.
Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, rector, Minor Seminary of Mangalore diocese compered the programme.