Moodbidri: All Communities Gather to Bid Farewell to Fr Vincent D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (RD)
Pics Vinod Nazareth and Roshan Madtha
Moodbidri, Jun 13: A function to bid farewell to Fr Vincent D’Souza, parish priest of Our Lady of Rosary, Alangar, was organized by the public felicitation committees of various religious and social welfare organizations, here on Sunday June 13.
It was a rare incident in the vicinity; perhaps the first time a Catholic religious priest received the highest honour irrespective of caste, creed, language, and religion.
Fr D’Souza is a pious priest who has been involved in promoting peace and brotherhood in the locality by partaking in the religious functions of each community over the past eight years, while working as parish priest of Alangar. He was an active member of the Lions Club and popular with people of all communities.
Dr M Mohan Alva, chairman, Alva’s Education Foundation, Jain Swami Sri Charukeerti Bhattaraka, former state minister Amaranath Shetty, and timber merchant and Rotary Club president Mohammed Abbas Ali, lauded the social concern and zealousness of Fr D’Souza in promoting peace and communal harmony in the locality.
The Swamiji blessed the occasion. He said that Fr D’Souza is not only for Catholics as, through his service, he had become a father figure for everyone. He hoped that one day the priest would become the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
Fr D’Souza has been transferred to Our Lady of Dolours parish, Bela, Kasargod district. He will join the parishioners there on Friday June 18. Fr D’Souza began the practice of organizing get-togethers of people of various communities and religions during Christmas every year.
Deanery vicar Fr Austin Peter Peres and Fr Mark Walder were present on the dais.
A large number of people of diverse religions and faiths attended the felicitation.
Fr Basil Vaz of Bela will take charge of Alangar parish.