Mangalore: Fr Vincent Furtado - New Provincial of Capuchins in K'taka
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Mangalore, May 2: The Holy Trinity Province of Capuchins in Karnataka now has got a new provincial. Fr Vincent Furtado, hailing from Holy Family Church Brahmavar (the only parish run by Capuchins in Mangalore diocese) has been elected as new provincial during the chapter of the province held in Bangalore from April 16 to April 19.
From L to R: Fr Cyprian D'Souza,Fr Anil Sequeira, Fr Vincent Furtado, Fr Denis Veigas, Fr Edwin Colaco
While Fr Vincent Furtado (63) has been elected provincial for the third time, Fr Anil Sequeira has been elected as vicar provincial. Fr Denis Gabriel Veigas (52), Fr Edwin Cyprian Colaco (65) and Fr Peter Cyprian D'Souza (42) have been elected as second, third and fourth definitors respectively.
Fr Vince Furtado (64) “In character, in manners, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity,” are the words of Longellow that come spontaneously to ones mind when one thinks of ‘Vincy,’ as he is fondly known in the Furtado family! The ninth and the last child of the late Paul and Albina Furtado was born on October 27, 1943, at Shanthi Bhoomi (an island in Suvarna river) in Baikady, belonging to Holy Family Church, Brahmavar. He has four brothers and four sisters, among whom his Fr Rocky Dayanand Furtado is a Capuchin serving St Fidelis Province, North India, and his sister Lionel is an A C, recently in Goa. Three nephews being Capuchins there are altogether 5 Capuchins, and with his sister and 5 nieces, there are 6 religious sisters in different congregations in the family.
Soon after his initial studies at Baikady school he joined Assisi house and went on to do B.Sc. at St Aloysius College, Mangalore. He made his first profession on June 1, 1975, perpetual profession on April 7, 1978 and was ordained a priest on May 11, 1978. He then did M.Phil., in Philosophy in papal seminary Jnana Deepa Vidya Peeta, Pune and joined the Deena Seva Asharm (DSA), the institute of Philosphy staff and taught for 6 yrs from 1981 to 1987. He did his doctoral study in Theology in Muenster, Germany. Once again he returned to DSA in 1992, and served DSA first as the staff member, assistant and rector from 1993 to 1996.
He took up the responsibility of the research institute at FISI in 2001. For three years, from 2001, he was the director of the research institute and Shanthi Sadhana, FISI, till date. He is in great demand at national and international-level as he is often invited for lectures and seminars. He is loved and appreciated not only for his intellectual and administrative capacities but more for his simplicity of life and approach.
He was elected provincial of the Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra for the first time on May 1, 1996 and then nominated as the first provincial of the Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka on December 8, 1998. He was the provincial till June 6, 2001. He served the province as the vicar Provincial and the first definitor from April 15, 2004 till April 18, 2007 before being elected as provincial for the third time.
Among the definitors Fr Anil Sequeira is one of the senior brothers in the Province and has vast experience in administration as well as teaching in formation houses. He was also the general definitor for one term. Having been ordained in 1972, he too has been the provincial twice. Fr Denis Veigas from Vittal was ordained priest in 1983. While being a teaching faculty in formation houses, he has also served as provincial secretary between 1999 and 2001.
Fr Edwin Colaco was born in Hospet was at Fatima Friary, Vidyavihar, Mumbai for 17 years as the administrator of the school. He has had long stint in administration as provincial secretary, treasurer and also definitor. Fr Peter Cyprian D'Souza hailing from Permude was born in 1965. One of his brothers Fr Valerian Stany D’Souza is serving in the diocese of Varanasi. He was ordained priest in 1994. On June 11, 1997 he proceeded to Dubai as a co-pastor. He served there 8 and years and returned to the province as the assistant manager of the Assisi Press from January 2006.