By Teena Fernandes
Livonia, May 14: The parishioners of St Priscilla’s Church, Livonia, MI and friends of Fr Theodore D’ Cunha celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination as priest on May 8.
Fr Theo a native of Belthangady, near Mangalore was born to a loving family of which he was the youngest of 10 children. He lost both his parents at an early age, but grew up under the tender care of his oldest sister, Felcy. As a little boy he was always close to priests and nuns, and their exemplary life attracted him to be a priest. After completing high school, he joined the Pallottine Religious Order SAC (Society of the Catholic Apostolate). Upon finishing studies for the priesthood, he was ordained on May 10, 1990. Since then his spiritual journey spanned across several parishes in India and USA touching several lives.
During the last 25 years of his priesthood, he was a spiritual director of the young men who just joined the seminary and a pastor at St Francis Xavier parish as well as the chaplain of the Seafarers in Goa, a beautiful tourist destination in India. Later on he moved to USA to serve as a Parochial Vicar of St Martha’s Catholic Church, a Pallottine parish in Sarasota, Florida. He enjoyed the warmth of a beautiful Florida and also the warm friendship of the American people. He moved to Detroit, MI and it was upon a call to serve the need that was there and he was as an associate pastor at St John Newman, Canton. Today he is serving as a Pastor at St Priscilla, a wonderful parish located in Livonia, Michigan.
The celebrations began with a grand procession to the altar by the Knights of Columbus. The Eucharistic celebrations were led by Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, Fr Francis R. Reiss, along with Fr Sucorro Fernandes, Fr Henrico Rebello, Fr Kishore Battu, Fr Anthony Britto, Gilbert Mascarenhas, Fr Sahaye Stanley, Fr Theo and several other priests and deacons from the diocese. Fr Ron Richards, pastor and former mentor of Fr Theo’s at St John Neumann in Canton Michigan delivered inspiring homily summarizing Fr Theo’s mission work and priestly life.
After the celebratory mass, a reception was held in the adjoining parish hall where everyone had the opportunity to wish Rev. Fr. Theo. The reception was invoked with an Indian classical dance to a Konkani Prayer song followed with a sumptuous dinner arranged by the parish family, Vietnamese and Philippine families and blessed by the Most Rev. Bishop of Detroit, Francis Reiss. The evening saw several cultural dances from the Philippine community.
After dinner, a multimedia presentation about Fr Theo was done very meticulously. Following this, Arthur Lobo, a close friend of Fr. Theo from Belthangady spoke few words recollecting his time and friendship with Fr. Theo. Fr. Theo’s colleague, a Pallottine priest, Fr. Britto recollected his days with Fr. Theo in India. Deacon Robert Fitzgerald from St. Priscilla spoke kindly about Fr. Theo as well as Gary Lupino, a former parishioner in Florida. The common thread of all the guest speakers was that “ Fr Theo is very kind and is being loved and respected by one and all, for all his good deeds”.
The Vote of Thanks was given on a high note, by Rev Fr Theo and he thanked his sister and brother-in-law, Felcy D’Cunha and Vincent D’Souza, for their perseverance to inspire him to become a priest. He also thanked his niece, Tony and Archana D’Souza from Atlanta, friends Gary and Georgia Lupina from Sarasota, John D’Souza from New Jersey, and all friends and parishioners who made the celebrations an evening to remember.