Mangaluru: Eighteen Catholic priests had been ordained into their ministry at St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary in Jeppu in the city in 1966.
On the threshold of their golden jubilee of priesthood, eight of them got together and offered a Thanksgiving service in the chapel of the seminary on Thursday, January 21. The main celebrant at the service was Fr Oswald Lasrado of Mangaluru diocese.
Other seven joining him were Frs C R Prabhu of Jamshedpur diocese, Denis Menezes and Archibald Correa of Ballari diocese, Marian Pinto of Mangaluru diocese, Thomas Valayalil of Bagdogra and Jacob Kalianthanthanath of Thiruvanthapuram diocese.
Owing to unavoidable circumstances, Frs J B D’Souza and Mark Valdar of Mangaluru diocese and Robert Fernandes of Belagavi could not attend, while Frs Ignatius Rodrigues is serving in San Bernardino of California in USA and Michael Sequeira in Clinton in Ohio, also in USA.
Sorely missed were their five batchmates who are no more – Frs Joseph Kunnath of Sikkim diocese, Joseph Kootiyanil, John Joseph Martis, Joe Morris-Shenoy of Mangaluru diocese and George Kattumana.
Fr Marian Pinto made the opening remarks and introduced the jubilarians. Fr C R Prabhu reminisced over the time spent in the seminary as well as the hardships faced in the northern states in particular. He vividly described the difficulties faced in the absence of basic infrastructure and conveyance and communication facilities decades ago, in contrast with the comforts afforded in the modern times.
Fr Joseph Martis, the rector of the seminary, congratulated the jubilarians and thanked the seminary team who ensured the success of the programme in every possible way.
Fr Martis and team hosted the programme. The breakfast that followed facilitated a cordial interaction between the jubilarians, the seminary team and close family members.
What a grand privilege and honor to witness 18 priests completing their golden Anniversary as priests ordained at St. Joseph Seminary, in our very neighborhood, fifty years ago. These 18 priests hailing from different Dioceses all over India and abroad have given total 900 years of Religious service dedicating themselves to the divine will of God. To be a good priests for fifty solid years is a tremendous feeling of pride and satisfaction not only for themselves as priests, but also thousands of others whom they have reached out and touched thru their prayers, blessings and much more. We have… Read more »
God Bless all the Priests. We are proud of all of them for their service and dedication To Jesus Christ.