Udupi: Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’souza felicitated on his Priestly Silver Jubilee by Pangala

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Pangala/Udupi, 11 May 2015: A memorable and grand Priestly Silver Jubilee of Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza, Parish Priest of Pangala Parish was organized by the Parish Council of St. John the Evangelist Church, Pangala on Sunday the 10th May 2015 at 5.30pm. A large number of parishioners were gathered to greet and congratulate Fr. Leslie D’Souza. The celebrations were also attended by scores of priests from both Mangalore and Udupi Diocese, including family members of Fr. Leslie mainly his elder brother Mr. Valerian D’Souza. On the auspicious occasion three other priests who also completed 25 years of Priesthood and Fr. Leslie’s companions and close friends Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto (Director: SAMPADA), Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa (Parish Priest, Kuntalnagar) and Rev. Alexander Lewis (Parish Priest Kannajar) were also felicitated.

 

The grand celebrations began with the Holy Eucharist Mass offer by the celebrant Rev. Dr. Leslie D’Souza co-celebrated with Rev. Fr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar General, Udupi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro, Dean of the Shirva Deanery, Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto (Director SAMPADA), Udupi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Alwyn D’Cunha (Parish Priest, Katipalla), Rev. Fr. Vincent Coelho (Principal), , Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa (PRO Udupi Diocese).

 

 

Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto delivered the homily and highlighted the significance of the priesthood dedication towards the laity. He said “Priests main duty is not building the buildings but trust of the parishioners and take them towards true love of Jesus and create loving and caring hearts to love each other and service of God Almighty that is by living a life of Crucified Jesus Christ”. He said Rev. Dr. Leslie D’Souza just done that and he has lived a true life of Jesus Christ and great example to everyone.

 

Soon after the mass, the grand reception was held wherein the Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza and all the visiting priests were escorted ceremoniously to the dais with a traditional band followed by St. John’s Evangelists School band.

 

The grand felicitation programme began with a prayer song by parish singers invoking God’s blessings on the auspicious occasion of Silver Jubilee of Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza followed by a Welcome dance by children of Melodia Music Institute.

 

The Vice President of Parish council Mr. Mark Vas and Secretary of Parish Council Ms. Simi D’Souza escorted the main celebrant Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza along with other dignitaries namely Rev. Fr. Baptist Menezes Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro, Rev. Fr. Alwyn D’Cunha, Rev. Fr. Alexander D’Souza, Mr. Valerian D’Souza (Brother of Fr. Leslie), Rev. Fr. Vincent Coelho (Principal and Main coordinator of Silver Jubilee Organizing Committee) and Sr. Mariola to the dais.

 

Fr. Vincent Coelho accorded a warm and hearty welcome to Fr. Leslie D’Souza along with all the other dignitaries present on the dais. On behalf of Pangala Parish Council and Parishioners of Pangla Parish, he thanked Fr. Leslie for his selfless service to the parish and his dedication to the parish and her institutions. He also accorded a warm welcome to all the visiting priests from Mangalore and Udupi Diocese as well as the special guests i.e. leaders of the various associations, Rotary Club Members, Jayce Members and gram panchayat members.

 

 Mr. Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development, Karnataka felicitated Fr. Leslie on the occasion.

 

The toast was raised by a close companion from the seminary days Fr. Alwyn D’Cunha. In his toast Fr. Alwyn highlighted the various good qualities of Fr. Leslie and his dedication to the job he is assigned and mainly excellent trac record his academic achievements. He further said: Fr. Leslie is a very honest and straight forward person and will not deviate from code of conducts and no bias to anyone. For him, rich and poor are same and he will not compromise on any issues that will benefit the parishioners. He is a man of Conviction, Selfless and totally dedicated to others, Very Intelligent and have gained immense knowledge, and above all man of great devotion and dedicated his life to Jesus Christ.

 

On the auspicious occasion a memorable Man Patr (Citation) was presented to Fr. Leslie highlighting his various achievements and selfless service to Pangala Parish and his total dedication in uplifting and development of our educational institutions as well as spiritual needs of the laity. The Man Patr was presented by Mr. Mark Vas and Simi D’Souza while Fr. Baptist Menezes presented a traditional shawl, fruit basket and a memento. Also presented on the occasion was a Silver Plate made out of pure Silver as a memorable gift from Pangala Parishioners was presented by Fr. Vincent Coelho.

 

All the ward gurkars and various association presidents presented 25 flower garlands to Fr. Leslie on the occasion.

 

On the occasion three other companions of Fr. Leslie who were celebrating Silver Jubilee of priesthood were also felicitated namely Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto (Director: SAMPADA), Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa (Parish Priest, Kuntalnagar) and Rev. Alexander Lewis (Parish Priest Kannajar) were also felicitated by Fr. Baptist Menezes with a shawl, fruit basket and flower garlands.

 

Rev. Fr. Baptist Menezes and Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro spoke on the occasion and congratulated Fr. Leslie on completion of 25 years of service as devote and dedicated priest first a long service in the St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore as a lecturer and then five years in Pangala Parish catering to the every need of the parishioners, Fr. Baptist put forward two important questions to the celebrates i.e. a) Are you happy as a priest and b) Why you have decided to become the priest and he said if you can answer those questions and meditate upon it, you will be the best examples of Jesus Christ. Fr. Stany Tauro highlighted the cleanliness and neatness of the church and school facilities and he further said it is very difficult to trace Fr. Leslie in the parish as he is either with the little children, or youth or in the school and rarely found in the parish office. That shows his total commitment to the parishioners and especially to the youth, the education of the students.

 

In response Fr. Leslie, thanked each and every one for organizing his silver jubilee celebrations especially Fr. Vincent Coelho for organizing and over-seeing all the arrangements to the clinical finish. He further said that he was very happy at the turn out of large number of parishioners not only for the felicitation program but to the Holy Eucharistic Mass. He was also thankful for the members of Parish Council members, large number of volunteers and especially the Silver Jubilee organizing committee namely Mr. Mark Vaz and Simi for organizing such a wonderful reception inviting all the priests of both diocese, his family members and distinguished guests.

 

The vote of thanks was proposed by Ms. Simi D’Souza.