Udupi: One Solemn Celebration for Two Priest Brothers
Report and Pictures by Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
Daijiworld Media Network

Udupi, Jan 21: It is a strange coincidence that  two brothers, that too priests reach two distinct landmarks in their individual lives within a span of seventy two days from 5th December 2009 to 15th February 2010,  but celebrate these two occasions in a single family function beginning with a solemn thanksgiving Mass followed by felicitation and lunch along with the entire family, relatives, friends, well-wishers and parishioners where both of them had served with dedication, love and affection. These two priests are, Rev. Dr. Valerian D’Souza and his younger brother, Rev. Fr. Denis D’Souza.

Fr. Valerian D’Souza has completed fifty years of his priesthood on 5th December 2009 and  his younger brother, Fr. Denis will complete seventy five years of his life on 15th February 2010. Hence the family members and relatives of both Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis decided to have a grand family function on 21st January 2010 as a single celebration to honour the jubilarians in their family.

The solemn thanksgiving Mass was offered by Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Shivmoga along with Fr. Valerian, Fr. Denis and other forty two priests at the Church of St. Sebastian at Bendoor, Mangalore on Thursday, 21st January 2010 at 11 AM. Fr. Clifford Fernandes, Professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore in his homily emphasised the fact that we should give thanks to the Almighty God for the gift of fifty years of priesthood to Fr. Valerian and the gift of life of seventy five years to Fr. Denis. In the course of the homily Fr. Clifford emphasised the fact by saying, “We should measure our worth by thinking not how much we are happy, but how many people are happy because of us.”
Following the thanksgiving Mass, a brief felicitation programme was held in the parish hall which was packed to the capacity. Fr. Vincent anchored the programme and Mr. Patrick D’Souza, son-in-law of
Henry D’Souza, the youngest brother of Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis welcomed the guests.

In his felicitation address, Fr. Antony Serrao said that both the brothers are celebrating their important anniversaries. Their family is proud to have five of their siblings being in the service of the church and God, two as priests and three as religious sisters. In his message, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo congratulated both Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis for reaching the milestones in their individual lives and wished them good health and happiness in their future lives as well.

The family members felicitated both Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis by offering them flower bouquets. Their three sisters- Sr. Lucina (Bethany), Sr. Saverina (Brigitine) and Sr. Celine (Bethany) were present for the thanksgiving Mass and the felicitation programme. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo honoured both Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis by offering them shawls and garlands.

On behalf of himself and his brother, Fr. Denis, Fr. Valerian in emotion filled voice expressed his gratitude to his late parents and brothers and Archbishop Albert D’Souza and Bishop Basil D’Souza for all the help that they had rendered to the family and themselves when they were in need. He also thanked the present Bishop of Mangalore, Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius D’Souza, all the family members, relatives, friends from far and near and all the parishioners where both of them had served for their love, affection and cooperation. 

Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis were born on 15th October 1932 and 15th February 1935 respectively in a large and devout family of thirteen children-six boys and seven girls. Out of these, three had passed away before Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis were born and three later. Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis are the ninth and tenth respectively. Their parents, late Paul and late Mary D’Souza from Piliguri in Bantwal had to work hard to raise and educate their children. Their sacrifice is memorable and praiseworthy as they did not prevent any of their five children-two sons and three daughters dedicating themselves to the service of God and humanity.

Fr. Valerian D’Souza joined St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1951 and Fr. Denis in 1954 and they were ordained on 5th December 1959 and 4th December 1961 respectively. After his ordination, Fr. Valerian served as assistant parish priest at Pezar, Valencia and Moodubelle. He went to Rome and acquired doctorate in Canon Law. He was appointed as the first full time Director of the Youth Activities of the Diocese. He served as parish priest at Urwa, Puttur, Cordel and Moodubelle. Wherever, he went as parish priest, Fr. Valerian built the necessary infra structure in terms of churches, schools, parish halls and parish houses. His construction works at Puttur, Cordel and Moodubelle are well-known. Moreover, he built united and vibrant parish communities. He also served at the diocesan level as the treasurer and administrator of the diocesan properties.

After his ordination, Fr. Denis served as assistant parish priest at Shirva for six years. Thereafter, he was appointed as the first parish priest of Pamboor where he built the Church and served the parish for nine years. Later he served as parish priest at Bondel  for ten years during which he constructed the St. Lawrence Church. Next he was the parish priest of Niddodi, Mukammar and Cassia where he built the parish house and St. Rita’s Higher Primary School building. At Suratkla he built English Medium Higher Primary School. Presently, since five years, Fr. Denis is the parish priest at Sampige where he will be completing seventy five years on 15th February 2010 and thereafter will retire from June 2010.

As we briefly review the life and achievements of both Fr. Valerian and Fr. Denis, these two brothers coming from a family that has offered five of its members to the service of God and church, indeed deserve the felicitation that the grateful family and the parish communities offered to them. It was a befitting thanksgiving solemn Mass and the felicitation that would remain ingrained in the hearts and minds of all those who attended this one grand solemn function of the two brothers celebrating two different landmarks in their lives-Fr. Valerian, fifty years of priesthood and Fr. Fr. Denis, seventy five years of life.