Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (KR)
Udupi, Jan 2: The faithful of St Antony Church, Nada Padukone witnessed the ordination of Deacon Paul Olwyn D’Almeida, OFM Capuchin, on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at St Antony Church, Padukone.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi ordained the new priest. He is the first capuchin priest from the Padukone Church.
In his homily, bishop of Udupi said, “A priest is a person loved by people and God. He is blessed by God and grows under his guidance. In this world after God, it the priest who is adored more by the people. He is the person chosen by God; he is intermediary between God and people. We see many instances in the holy bible on God choosing his disciples. God himself chooses a priest to proclaim the word.
“A priest must be a person of prayer. Through prayer he knows the will of God. Even Jesus spent lot of time in Prayer. In all times he asked the blessing of God. A priest must follow the footsteps of Christ. The first mission of a priest is to serve the people of all categories and bring glory to God. To preach the people about word of God. And today the new priest will receive word of God. He needs to believe and reflect the word of God and not only preach it to others but also live according to it.
“From today onwards the new priest will celebrate the Eucharistic celebration and how Jesus gave his own life to us, the same way you need to be like Jesus to sacrifice your life to serve the people,” he said.
Prior to the felicitation programme, bishop in his message said, “Recently Holy Father said that for Catholic Church numbers are not important but the quality in the priest is important. From today onwards you are priest for life long. It’s not easy to be priest. You need to become like St. Francis Assisi. On the same time he called upon the parents to send their children for religious community. Holy Catholic Church, our diocese requires priest and nuns to serve the church and the society.”
Fr Paul Olwyn felicitated the bishop. Fr Jaison Pais, narrated the rituals ceremony.
In the formal felicitation programme, Fr Joseph Dolphy Pais, provincial, Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, Fr Salvador Fernandes, rector, Theology, Bengaluru, Fr Fredrick Mascarenhas, parish priest, St Antony Church, Padukone, Fr Gregory D'souza, Priest, Agghar, Fr Chethan Lobo, editor, Uzward, Joseph D’Almeida and Helen D’Almeida parents of Fr Paul Olwyn D’Almeida, benefactors Celine Pinto, Anclote Pinto were present on the dais.
Fr Chethan Lobo in his Toast message said Maravanthe Beach and Padukone are known worldwide for good reasons. But today Padukone have made their foot print with this ordination of Fr Paul Olwyn and we Capuchins are have proud to say this that we have a brother in our community.
About Fr Paul is humble in his behaviour, best artist in drama and makes everyone smile because of his act and talk. Priest life won’t be praise worthy if we won’t carry Jesus Christ. We the priest are always in opposition position. Because a priest have to correct when things are going wrong, need to reach the needy in the society and look at being simple like others.
Fr Frederick Mascarenhas welcomed the guest with the flower bouquet. Fr Paul Olwyn felicitated all the well-wishers on the occasion. Fr Joseph Dolphy Pais thanked the well-wishers for the support. Fr Derick D’Souza, compered the programme.
While Fr Joseph Dolphy Pais, provincial, Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, Fr Fredrick Mascarenhas, parish priest, St Antony Church, Nada Padukone, Fr Chethan Lobo, editor, Uzward, diocese of Udupi, and priests from the diocese and capuchin fraternity were present.
Parishioners of the church took active participation in the entire ceremony.