Mangaluru: April 17, was a special day in the life of the Karnataka-Goa Province of Discalced Carmelites, as five more members were added to the Priestly tribe!
The Solemn Mass with the rich ceremony of Priestly Ordination began at 03.30 pm as around 85 Priests processed in the beautiful Infant Jesus Shrine at Bikarnatakatte, Mangaluru. Bishop of Mangaluru Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, was the ordaining minister.
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Fr Kevin Felix Fernandes, from St. Joseph the Worker Church, Vamanjoor.
Fr Arun Bennis, from St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Nirkan.
Fr Prakash Lancy Rebello from St. Antony’s Church, Bannur – Puttur.
Fr Joseph Cyril D’Souza (Jocy Siddakatte) from St. Patrick’s Church, Siddakatte and
Fr Pawan Alson Saldanha from Most Holy Saviour Church, Agrar.
The first four completed their theological studies at St Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Jeppu, Mangaluru for the last 4 years and the last one was a student at St Pius X Seminary, Goregoan, Mumbai. Fr Joe Tauro, OCD, Superior of St Joseph’s Monastery enumerated the various dimensions of Priesthood in his homily.
The Ordination rite was animated by Fr Jason Tellis, which included the laying of hands, prostration during the singing of the litany and the anointing of the hands with ‘chrism oil’. The respective parish priests adorned the newly ordained in priestly vestments.
In the short felicitation programme that followed the Mass, Fr Charles Serrao, Provincial Superior of the Karnataka-Goa Province expressed his great joy to have these gifted youngsters in the Carmelite Family. Special thanks were rendered to the parents and the families who had offered their sons to the service of the Lord. The benefactors who accompanied them in their journey to the Priesthood were also honoured on the occasion.
This year the Carmelites have an abundant harvest of new priests. Those ordained earlier are:
Fr Sandeep Goveas who was ordained by Most. Rev. Antony Swamy, Bishop of Chikmagalur on 16th of April at Moodigere – Chikmagalur.
Fr Antony Stephen was raised to the presbyterate on 15th of April 2015 at his native parish Mount Carmel Church, Mariyapura, Bangalore, by Most Rev. Robert Miranda, the Bishop of Gulbharga.
Fr Augustine Robert was ordained on Tuesday 14th of April at his native parish, Sacred Heart Church, Kodiugane by Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Antony Vazhapilly, the Bishop of Mysore.
Fr Noel Francis D’Cunha was ordained on 11th of February by Most. Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrrao, Archbishop-Patriarch of Goa and Daman, at Carmelite Monastery, Aquem-Margao.