Mangaluru catholic diocese gets 5 new priests : Ordination April 20

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 21, 2017: The Bishop of Mangaluru,  Rev.Dr.Aloysius Paul D’Souza, conferred ordination to the priesthood (guru deeksha), at the main church of the Mangaluru diocese, Rosario cathedral on April 20 Thursday. The ceremony lasting 3 hours, gave the diocese 5 news priests in the service who are fully trained for their mission of guiding and offering sacramental and scriptural support to the catholic people here.

 

 

 

The 5 new priests ordained are :  Fr Alwyn Richard D’Souza from Shirthady, Fr Anil Francis Pinto from Indubettu, Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes from Nainad, Fr Antony Clany D ‘Souza from Omzoor, and Fr Lizel Joy D’Souza from Mudipu.  It is stated that the diocese has around 300 priests as of now.

The ceremony conducted in Konkani a solemn and orderly ritual  was attended by a huge gathering of priests, nuns, family members of the new priests and laity of the area. The music and singing was superb.

Bishop Rev Dr A P D’Souza,  in his exhortation to the new priests said, "The primary mission  to promulgate the word of Christ as in the Bible, serve the good of the church (i,e: the people) and be a support to the church in all aspects. Priest are called from ordinary families and are as human as others, they get the power of Christ to serve for the good of humanity. All faithful will be able to see and appreciate the good works. But, as Christ suffered even to the end on the cross, the priests too must accept all the suffering that comes his way and be faithful to the call of God. For he is called by God and he has not unilateral chosen this role. In times when the world is seeing a shortage of priests the life and work of a priest is beyond all count and is a heavenly calling". The Bishop also appealed to the laity to work and pray for more vocations from this traditional area.

The ordination right is unique, the different stages are: Candidates step forward and accept the call of Christ; they prostrate and the saints of the church are invoked; the bishop calls upon the Holy spirit to fill them; they pledge to be obedient to the church and it’s representatives; the bishop and all priests present lay hands on their head and bless them individually; they are entrusted with the gifts to offer mass; the hands are anointed with holy oils and they put on the priestly vestments for mass and join the Bishop to offer their first solemn mass in all it’s pomp and splendour. finally, in the capacity of priests they give their first official blessing to all present.

The sacred right was followed by a felicitation of the 5 new priest, their parents with families who have gifted the priceless treasures to God and the church. Along with the Bishop also Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu, Vicar General and the Rector of the Seminary shared the dais.  In the course of the next few weeks other candidates too will be ordained at various parishes in the diocese.