Media Release

Udupi, May 11 : It was a memorable day in the life of Fr Leslie Clifford D’Souza. On May 10, he had completed 25 years in the Service of the Lord as a Priest. So the parishioners of Pangla under the able leadership of Fr Vincent Coelho had arranged a thanksgiving Mass and a felicitation programme to honour the Jubilarian. The silver jubilee thanksgiving Mass was held on Sunday, May 10.

Fr Leslie celebrated the mass and thanked God for all the choicest blessings throughout these 25 years. Msgr Baptist Menezes, the Vicar General of Udupi Diocese, Fr Stany Tauro, the dean of Shirva Deanery, Fr Alex Lewis, the Parish Priest of Kanajar, Fr Reginald Pinto, the Director of Commission for Social Development of Udupi Diocese and Fr Vincent Coelho, Principal of St John’s College, Pangla concelebrated the mass. Fr Reginald Pinto broke the Word of God and gave a call to develop an intimate friendship with Jesus Christ. Fr Reginald Pinto was also felicitated as he too celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Priesthood.

Around 40 priests of Udupi and Mangalore diocese attended the Eucharistic Celebration. The Litugical MC was compered by Br Rolwin Fernandes.

Soon after the Mass, the stage was set for the felicitation ceremony. It began with the procession of the Jubilarian Fr Leslie D’Souza along with the band march. The parish choir invoked God through a prayer song, followed by a prayer dance. The cordinator of the silver jubilee committee Fr Vincent Coelho welcomed the priests and the gathering. The note of felicitation was delivered by the parish priest of Katipalla parish, Fr Alwyn D’Cunha. The silver jubilee cake was cut by the Jubilarian and the joy was shared with all. A token of honour ( Maan Pathr) was read out by the vice president of the parish pastoral committee, Mark Vaz.

As a symbolic gesture of 25 years of Priesthood, twenty five garlands were offered by the 21 Wards, Vice President, Secretary of the Parish Council,Convent Superior and Fr Vincent Coelho. Fr Stany Tauro and Msgr Baptist Menezes congratulated the Silver Jubilarians. Fr Leslie thanked everyone for making this day a memorable one in his life. Simmy D’Souza, the Secretary proposed the vote of thanks. Thereafter, Fr Alfred Rayan D’Souza prayed over the food and the food was served to all the
gathered.

The entire programme was compered by Walston D’Sa and Flavy Menezes. The programme turned out to be a great success due to the combined efforts of the various Committees, their respective Incharges and the guidance of Fr Vincent Coelho. About 1,500 people were a part of this programme.