Fr. Leston Lobo SJ offers First Thanksgiving Mass at St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle
By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Pics by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network
Udupi/M’Belle, 15 Oct 2023: Fr. Leston Baptist Lobo SJ, native of Kattingeri - Moodubelle, following his ordination along with five other Deacons by Bishop Francis Serrao SJ of Shimoga at the Fatima Retreat House, Jeppu, Mangalore on 14 October, offered his first Thanksgiving Mass at his native St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Sunday, 15 October at 11 am followed by felicitation programme in St. Lawrence Parish Hall at 12.30 pm. A large number of priests, religious men and women as well as family members, relatives and parishioners from Moodubelle and Bejai, Mangalore where Fr. Leston Lobo has been serving as a Deacon since August 2023.
In his homily, Fr. Antony Paes SJ pointed out that a priest is chosen from among the people for the service of the people. He is the one who stands by the poor and try to wipe out the tears from their eyes and build bond between people. The priest lives and serves by following the example of Jesus Christ.
Following the solemn First Thanksgiving Mass offered by the newly ordained Fr. Leston Lobo, a felicitation programme was organized in the Parish hall. Besides Fr. Leston Lobo, his parents Lawrence and Lilly Lobo, Fr. George D’Souza, Parish Priest of Moodubelle, Fr. J.B. Saldanha -Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Bejai - Mangalore and Fr. Francis Fernandes SJ-Representative of the Provincial of Jesuits Karnataka Province Fr. Dionysius Vaz SJ were on the dais.
The felicitation programme commenced with the welcome address delivered by Mrs. Violet Castelino followed by cutting of the cake by the celebrant Fr. Leston Lobo along with his parents and other priests on the dais as the choir of St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle sang the felicitation song.
The toast to the newly ordained Fr. Leston Lobo was raised by Fr. Francis Fernandes with jovial anecdotes. He narrated Fr. Leston Lobo’s family background, his desire to become a priest, his initial and higher education, his various stages of priestly training such as novitiate, regency, study of philosophy and Theology as well as college education. Fr. Leston Lobo joined the Jesuit congregation at the age of 16 years in 2008 and underwent training for 15 years and eventually, after completing his training in priesthood was ordained a priest on 14 October 2023.
Soon after his toast, Fr. Francis Fernandes felicitated Fr. Leston Lobo on behalf of the Provincial of the Jesuit Province of Karnataka and the Jesuits of Karnataka.
Next, the parents, brother Lloyd , sister-in-law and other family members of Fr. Leston Lobo felicitated him.
Fr. J.B. Saldanha, the Parish priest of Bejai-Mangalore complimented Fr. Leston Lobo and appreciated his service as a Deacon in the Bejai Parish where he manifested his talents as an organizer and a jovial person who endeared with the parishioners of Bejai. He along with the parishioners of Bejai present honoured Fr. Leston Lobo with shawl, flower bouquet and gift.
Speaking on this occasion, Fr. George D’Souza, Parish Priest of Moodubelle conveyed the greetings and best wishes to Fr. Leston Lobo and said that a priest should be fruitful and the one who walks in the path of Jesus Christ and serves the people as per His teachings. On behalf of the parishioners of Moodubelle, Fr. George D’Souza along with the Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Pradeep cardoza, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council - Pritish D‘Sa, Secretary - Charles Quadros and Convener of the 21 Commssions-Mrs. Gracy Rebello felicitated Fr. Leston Lobo.
In his thanksgiving address, Fr. Leston lobo expressed his gratitude to his parents, brother and sister-in-law, uncles, aunties, God-parents, all the relatives, teachers who taught him right from his primary to high school education, the parish priests, the vocation promoters, his spiritual guides and all those who had been instrumental in his upbringing, education and training. As he expressed his thanks, Fr. Leston Lobo felicitated his parents, brother and sister-in-law, God-parents, Fr. George D’Souza, Fr. Francis Fernandes, Fr. J.B. Saldanha, three of the five co-priests who were ordained along with him and Fr. Pradeep Cardoza who trained and led the choir during the solemn Thanksgiving Mass.
Members of St. Francis Xavier II Ward to which his parents belong felicitated Fr. Leston Lobo.
Fr. Jason Paes SJ anchored the entire felicitation programme in an lively manner.
About Fr. Leston Baptist Lobo SJ
Born on 1 February 1993 as the second son among two sons of Lawrence and Lilly Lobo of Kattingeri - Moodubelle, Fr. Leston Lobo SJ had his initial education in St. Lawrence Educational Institutions Moodubelle. Having a strong desire to be a preist, he joined the Jesuit Pre-Novitiate at Loyola, Mangalore in 2008 and later completed his novitiate at MSJ from 2010-12. Later, he did Juniorate at Trivendrum in 2013.
Fr. Leston Lobo SJ did his graduation in Science from Dharward from 2013-16 and two years Philosophy Course from Satyanilayam, Chennai from 2016 to 18. He did the First Phase of Regency at Loyola Mangalore and Second Phase at LVK, Mundagod. He studies Theology 1 and 2 at Anekal from 2020-22 and Theology 3 at Vidyajyothi Delhi in 2023. He was ordained as Deacon on 18 Februaary 2023 by Most Rev. Dr. Anil J T Cuto, Archbishop of Delhi and did Pastoral Ministry at St. Xavier’s Church Bejai from August 2023 till he was ordained a priest on 14 October 2023 by Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Shimoga at the Fatima Retreat House, Jeppu, Mangalore.