Gerry D’Mello, Bendur
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada

Canada, Oct 11: It was an awe-inspiring moment for the Mangalurean and Goan communities in Canada when their own Adrian Sequeira of Mangaluru origin was ordained as a priest dedicated to Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is a 'Society of Apostolic Life' erected by the Roman Catholic Church on September 1, 1990. Today it maintains houses and apostolates in several continents including North America and Europe.

The goal of the Institute is the honour of God and the sanctification of priests in the service of the Church and souls through a spiritual formation in Roman Catholic doctrine and piety. Its specific aim is missionary, to spread and defend the reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ in all realms of human life.

Dedicated to Christ the King Sovereign Priest, the Institute venerates Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception as main patroness. At the same time, it has as co-patrons St Francis de Sales, St Thomas Aquinas and St Benedict.

The Motherhouse and Seminary of the Institute are situated in Gricigliano, Italy, in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany, only ten miles from Florence and 170 miles from Rome and the Vatican.

There the seminarians are educated in a faithful Roman Catholic spirit indicated by Holy Mother Church through Scripture and Tradition in the light of papal teaching. All the Houses of the Institute in the United States and elsewhere show the same orientation.

The priests of the Institute are prepared for an apostolic life and strive to create, in our Houses and Apostolates, isles of faith where the traditional, supernatural, and natural values of a true Roman Catholic civilization are realized in a profound harmony between faith and culture.

With papal indult the Institute follows the liturgical Rite of 1962 promulgated by Pope Saint John XXIII. The classical Roman Liturgy and the Holy Office, in the language of Holy Mother Church, are important pillars of the Institute’s spirituality. Our community life generally follows the traditional example of the secular canons.

Adrian’s childhood

Adrian Sequeira, the 38-year-old Canadian of Mangaluru origin, was born on September 15, 1978 in the parish of Bejai, Mangaluru. The son of Albert Sequeira (son of the late Santhan Sequeira and the late Querobine Miranda / Kinnigoli) and Dorothy Pinto (daughter of the late Cyril Pinto and the late Eugenia D’Silva / Bejai) has set his close circles abuzz with his unique commitment towards serving the Lord’s flock. Adrian has two younger siblings Aldora and Abigail.

Adrian’s journey towards priesthood

Being a qualified Computer Engineer Adrian inherits dynamic leadership qualities a priestly nature from his devoted parents highlights of Adrian journey towards his priesthood include:

- Grew up and did his initial schooling in Bahrain.

- Was a committed Alter Server at the Sacred Heart Church in Bahrain.

- Immigrated to Canada with his family in 1996.

- Graduated with a Bachelors of Engineering in Computer Engineering from McGill University in Montreal/Canada.

- In 2003 completed a Masters in Applied Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto.

- Worked in the Ontario Provincial Government until he responded to the Call for the priesthood.

- In 2006 joined Philip Neri Seminary, run by the fathers of the Oratory in Toronto where he graduated with degree in philosophy and later joined the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest at their provincial head-quarters in Chicago, United States in 2008.

- He moved to the Institute’s mother-house on the outskirts of Florence, Italy in 2009 where he completed his studies.

- Was ordained to the priesthood with 10 other deacons on July 02, 2015 by Raymond Cardinal Burke, in Florence, Italy at the Church of Sts Michael and Cajetan.

- Celebrated the Solemn Mass of thanksgiving at the Holy Family Church in Toronto

Undoubtedly, Fr Adrian is not only a unique and precious Mangalurean gift to the world where vocations for priesthood are diminishing especially in Europe and North America. He is also a role model to the younger generation. The Konkani community in Canada wishes the very best to Fr Adrian Sequeira for his new and exciting journey with the Lord.