Media Release
Australia, Sep 20: The ordination of Dn Prakash Menezes, SVD along with Dn Bernadinus Asmon, SVD of Indonesia and Dn Trien Nguyen, SVD of Vietnam, was held in St Paschal’s Chapel, Box Hill, Australia recently.
People from all the three countries were present at the great event. Fr Stany Tauro, the parish priest of Our Lady of Good Health Parish, Shirva and Fr Prakash Cutinha, parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, Northcote, Australia, represented the Konkani community on the altar. Dr Eugene Hurley DD, Bishop of Darwin, Australia, presided over the Eucharist and anointed the hands of the deacons and raised them to holy priesthood. Fr Prakash Menezes' parents and godmother were also present. A large number of Konkani people from in and around Melbourne witnessed this rare event.
The first thanksgiving mass was celebrated the following day, at Santa Maria College, Northcote. Fr Prakash Menezes was the main celebrant and Fr Prakash Cutinha (the parish priest of St Joseph's Church, Northcote and the Spiritual Director of Melbourne Konkan Community) and Fr Stany Tauro (the parish priest of Our Lady of Good Health, Shirva) concelebrated the Eucharist. In his inspiring homily Fr Stany stressed on the importance of a priest in the church and in the lives of the people.
The Eucharist was followed by a stage programme to felicitate the new priest. Children welcomed the gathering with their dance trained by Reema and Priya Andrade gave a floral welcome to the guests on the dais.
Fr Prakash Menezes, along with the guests on the dais lit the lamp symbolically to show that the new journey has begun in his life. After cutting the cake, Fr Prakash Cutinha raised the toast and explained very well how a priest cannot live without the people and vice versa. He also said that with his experience he has come to know that sufferings and difficulties are part of a priest’s life and only prayer and good relationship with his people will help a priest to be happy and contented.
Fr Stany, the parish priest of Shirva Parish, speaking to the gathering said that it was really a great moment of his life to witness the ordination of his parishioner overseas. He also said that he was extremely happy with the overwhelming response of the Konkani people to this event. At the end of his speech Fr Stany felicitated the new priest with the red shawl specially brought from India for this purpose.
A small gift and a bouquet were presented to Fr Prakash Menezes on behalf of Melbourne Konkan Community. In his reply, Fr Prakash Menezes said that he always felt blessed to be with the Melbourne Konkan community. “It is their love and understanding that has kept me going,” he said. He thanked his parents, godmother and all those who have helped him to reach that level.
Jossy Fernandes, the president of Melbourne Konkan Community (MKC) thanked all those who helped this event to its success. Canet Vas compered the whole programme and kept the crowd floating in laughter with his hilarious jokes. The fabulous evening finally came to a close with a sumptuous meal.