‘Yuva Spoorthi’ title bestowed on Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza

‘Yuva Spoorthi’ title bestowed on Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza

Mangaluru: Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza, the Mangalore Diocesan Youth Director & Secretary of Mangalore Diocese Youth Commission was felicitated by the Indian Catholic Youth Movement, Central Council on behalf of the youth community of Mangalore Diocese for his selfless service to the youth ministry on 11th February 2018 during the Diaference – 2018 conference held at St Jude Thaddeus Church Grounds, Pakshikere.

Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza, popularly known as Fr Rons Ajekar was bestowed with the title ‘Yuva Spoorthi’ for his love, support, guidance, help, encouragement and motivation given to the youth of Mangalore Diocese from the past 14 years at different levels and capacities.

The felicitation was done by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese in the midst of Fr Chethan Machado – Secretary of CCBI Youth Commission, Fr Anil D’Sa – Karnataka Regional Youth Director, Sr Jessy Rita B.S -Karnataka Regional Youth Lady Animator, Fr Vincent Monteiro – Vicar Forane of Kinnigoli Deanery, Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza – Parish Priest of Pakshikere Church, Raymond D’Souza- ICYM National Council Member, Fr Clifford Pinto – Director of ICYM Kinnigoli Deanery, ICYM Diocesan President Elroy Saldanha, General Secretary Joel Concessao and a large number of youth.

About Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza:

Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza hails from Ajekar, Karkal in Udupi District. Born on 15th April 1971 as the ninth son of Marcel D’Souza and Late Eugine D’Souza, he completed his primary education at the Government Primary School, Ajekar, High School at Jyothi High School, Ajekar and P.U.C. at the Government P U College, Karkala.

He then joined the St Joseph Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore with a zeal of serving the Church as a priest. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.Com) from the Mangalore University. In the meantime, he completed his Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Ph.) from St Joseph Seminary, Jeppu.

He has a vast experience of working as a Regent at Sacred Heart Chapel, Bidar and has also served as a teacher in St Joseph High School, Bidar. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology (B.Th.) from Urbania University, Rome in 2000 and was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Mangalore on 1st May 2000 by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore.

From the year 2000 till date, he has served the diocese in various capacities beginning from St Joseph Church, Bajpe as an assistant Parish Priest from 2000 to 2002. From there, he was transferred to Ujini Mission Station in Bidar (at present part of Gulbarga Diocese) as an Assistant Director from 2002 to 2004. Then in 2004 he was appointed as the Assistant Director of Young Catholic Students (YCS) and Young Students Movement (YSM) and then in 2005 was promoted as the Director of YCS/YSM Mangalore Diocese where he served till 2012. He has successfully convened the 15th YCS National Council held in Mangalore in 2010.

In 2012 he took charge as the Director of Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), Mangalore Diocese of which he has been effectively leading from the front till date. Being in the youth ministry for more than 14 years he has gained a lot of experience to motivate the youth as well as people. He is also a good writer, poet and has composed the title song for the famous “Sajeeva Vakya” programme in Divine Word Channel.

As the Director of ICYM, he has strived hard for the overall development of the youth by organizing training programmes, motivational sessions and has been successfully conducting Diocesan Youth Conventions (DYC) and the Diaference (Diocesan Youth Conference).

In 2017, the success of the 10th National Youth Convention held in Mangalore wherein nearly 3000 youth from all over India had participated has been a feather in his cap and depicts his organizing skills.