Capuchin Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza appointed as Episcopal Vicar for Religious of Mluru Diocese

Capuchin Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza OFM Cap of Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka and Superior of St Anne’s Friary, Mangaluru appointed as Episcopal Vicar for Religious of Mangaluru Diocese by Bishop of Mangaluru Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha

Mangaluru: The Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha has appointed Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza OFM Capuchin of the Holy Trinity Province-Karnataka, and the Present Superior of St Anne’s Friary, Jail Road, Mangaluru as ‘EPISCOPAL VICAR for RELIGIOUS of MANGALURU DIOCESE’, as effective from 20 August 2020, for a term of two years. Fr Melwyn takes over this post from Rev Fr Pius James D’Souza OCD, who was the Episcopal Vicar for Religious until 15 August 2020. Fr Pius is now elected to the office of Provincial Superior, Karnataka Goa (OCD) Province.

On Thursday, 20 August 2020, Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza, Ofm Cap, the newly appointed Episcopal Vicar for Religious took oath in the presence of Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangaluru and Msgr. Maxim Noronha, Vicar General of the diocese. The oath-taking ceremony took place in the Chapel of Bishop’s house. Rev. Victor George D’Souza, the Chancellor, Rev. Victor Vijay Lobo, Procurator, Rev. Rohan Lobo, Secretary to the Bishop and Rev Richard D’Souza were also present.

The Bishop has also appointed Four New Vicars Forane, who have received their new assignments outside their Vicariate and consequently, lost the said Ecclesiastical office. In this context, taking into consideration the mind of the Holy See expressed in the Instruction, ‘The Pastoral Conversion’ given by the Congregation for the Clergy and published on 20 July 2020, which states that “the Vicar Forane does not necessarily have to be a Parish Priest of a specific Parish “(no 53; CFR can 554:1) and having consulted the College of Consultors who have recommended to the Bishop that a Vicar Forane should be appointed for a three-year term, which is renewable once so that the same priest does not hold the same office for an unduly long period, as stated by Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha while appointing the following Parish Priests as VICARS FORANE for a period of three years. They are-

Rev Fr Vincent Monteiro, Bendore, Mangaluru Vicar Forane of Epsoscopal Vicariate

Rev Fr Cyprian Pinto, Permannur Vicar Forane of Mangaluru South Vicariate

Rev Fr Joseph Cardoza, Belthangady Vicar Forane of Mangaluru East Vicariate

Rev Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, Puttur Vicar Forance of Eastern Vicariate

ABOUT FR PAUL MELWYN D’SOUZA OFM Cap :

Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza was born on 4 April 1969 in Basrikatte in the Diocese of Chikkamagaluru. His father late C.L. D’Souza was a supervisor in a coffee estate and mother was a hardworking devout housewife. Being the 9th child among the 12 siblings, He completed his primary education at Sacred Heart School, Basrikatte and joined the Capuchin order at the age of 15, after his SSLC at Milagres High School, Mangaluru and was ordained a priest on 14 January 1997. After his ordination he was appointed as a member of Deena Seva Ashram, the Institute of Philosophy and Religion, Bengaluru where he taught philosophy and also served as a co-pastor in the parish of St Francis of Assisi Church, Kengeri, Bengaluru.

Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza is an accomplished scholar. He obtained the Master’s degree (philosophy and religion) from Karnataka University, Dharwad (1999), Licentiate in Philosophy, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (2002). He has served as the dean of studies at Kripalaya, Mysuru, the Center of Philosophical Studies of the Karnataka Capuchin Province. In 2015, Fr D’Souza successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Theology, University of Zurich in Switzerland. Theme of the Licentiate: Aristotelian Concept of Ethics; Ph. D (Doctorate in Theology of Religions): Zurich University, Zurich, Switzerland. His scholarly research was on ‘The challenges of Hindu-Christian dialogue in India’. As a prolific writer and musician, he has brought out several albums. Most Rev. Dr Ignatius D’Souza, Bishop of Bareilly Diocese; Rev. Fr J.B. Crasta, Spiritual Director/Former Vicar Forane & Former Parish Priest of Rosario Cathedral, Mangaluru, and now Campus Priest at Fr Muller Hospital/College, Deralakatte; and Sr Margarita D’Souza, SCCG are his elder brother, maternal uncle and elder sister respectively.

More known as “ಪಾಮೆಡಿ” is a gifted musician, singer, composer, preacher and writer. He has already released nine devotional albums in Kannada and Konkani. His novel of performing some of the parables of Jesus and biblical songs on the stage is well accepted and appreciated by the audience as a kind of evangelization. He has published various articles, to name a few: ‘Deepavali: Victory of Good over Evil, Reaffirmation of Hope, November 2, 2013’; ‘Jesus and not Santa Claus: The Focus of Christmas, December 25, 2013’; ‘Christmas in Selfie Culture, December 24, 2014’; ‘Thoughts on Good Friday: God is non-Violent, April 3, 2015’; ‘The Cross the Supreme Symbol of Love and Life, April 18, 2015’; ‘Independence Day: Celebration of Secular Dynamism, August 15, 2015’; ‘Opinion: Tolerance possible only with Acceptance, November 30, 2015’; ‘Good Governance Day: Not a Luxury to miss Christmas, December 25, 2015’; ‘Easter: Jesus Christ truly Rose from the Dead, March 27, 2016’.

He served as a professor teaching philosophy in different seminaries, Dean of Studies and Vice-Rector at Deena Seva Ashram and Kripalaya, institutes of Philosophy and Religion was fully involved in the academic administration and formation of seminarians. Apart from Pastoral Ministry, Fr Paul Melwyn does Teaching, Preaching, Spiritual Guidance and Animation, Preaching of Retreats, Evangelization through Music. He has brought out few Devotional CDs: ‘ಶಾಂತಿಸಾಧನ, ಅಮೃತಹಸ್ತ, ಪ್ರೇಮನಿಧಿ, ಕೃಪಧಾರೆ, ನಿಸರ್ಗ್ ಜಗಜ್ಜೋತಿ, ಸಾಕಾಲ್ಯ, ಗೊವ್ಳ್ಯಾ ಮ್ಹಜ್ಯಾ, ಸೊಮ್ಯಾ ತುಜೆ ವೆಂಗೆಂತ್, ಮ್ಹಜ್ಯಾ ದೆವಾ-ಸರ್ವಾ, and contributes articles for ರಾಕ್ಣೊ, ಸೆವಕ್ ಆನಿಂ ಉಜ್ವಾಡ್.

Apart from being the Episcopal Vicar for Religious, Fr Melwyn is the Vicar Provincial of the Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka and is the Superior/Guardian of St Anne’s Friary, Mangaluru. He also serves as the President of Konkani Natak Sabha. For three years he has rendered valuable service as President of CRI (Conference of Religious India) – Mangaluru zone. As Episcopal Vicar for Religious, Fr Melwyn will serve as Bishop’s liaison and offer pastoral concern, provide appropriate resources, and facilitates collaborative structures for leaders and members of the various institutes of consecrated life to enhance their participation in the diocese. It is also his responsibility to bring closer cooperation between the diocesan clergy and religious.

Team Mangalorean congratulates Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza on his appointment as Episcopal Vicar for Religious of Mangaluru Diocese, and wish Him all success in his religious duties of the Church.