Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 16: In a grace-filled ceremony that marked a significant milestone for the local Church, five deacons were ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Mangalore by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, on Thursday, April 16 at the Holy Cross Church, Cordel, Kulshekar.
The solemn Eucharistic celebration saw the participation of prominent dignitaries including Msgr Maxim L Noronha, vicar general; Dr Daniel Veigas OP, episcopal vicar for religious; Dr Rajesh Rosario, rector of St Joseph Seminary, Jeppu; Naveen Pinto, judicial vicar; Santhosh Rodrigues, director of the Pastoral Centre; and Clifford Fernandes, parish priest of Cordel.
The parish priests of the ordinandi’s home parishes—Anil Avild Lobo (Nainad), Stany Pereira (Bela), Stany Goveas (Madanthyar), and Harold Mascarenhas (Shirthady)—were also present. Numerous diocesan and religious priests, sisters, brothers, and thousands of lay faithful gathered to witness the sacred rite.
Bishop’s homily: A divine gift and mystery
In his poignant homily, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha highlighted the profound theological and spiritual dimensions of the priesthood. Addressing the ordinandi, the Bishop underscored that the priesthood is fundamentally both a "divine gift and mystery"—a vocation initiated not by human merit, but by God’s free and everlasting love. He exhorted the new priests to ground their ministry in deep prayer and total reliance on God’s grace, noting that human weaknesses are transformed into pastoral strength when surrendered to the Lord.
The Bishop further reminded the congregation of the critical need to support their priests in their daily ministries. Echoing the universal call to spiritual resilience, he urged the faithful to accompany the new priests with continuous prayer, helping them to navigate the challenges of modern ministry while remaining faithful "friends of Christ."
The liturgical proceedings were animated by Rohith D’Costa, director of DBCLC Mangala Jyothi, along with the seminarians. The entire ceremony was coordinated by Clifford Fernandes.
Felicitation and gratitude
Following the Mass, a brief felicitation programme was held. Flavian Lobo introduced and felicitated the newly ordained priests and their parents. The Bishop individually greeted each new priest and honoured their parents with floral tributes.
On behalf of the newly ordained, Jeevan D’Souza expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Bishop, formators, vocation promoters, priests, parents, and parishioners for their constant support throughout their journey.
In his concluding remarks, Bishop Saldanha stated, “God has blessed us with five new priests. These young men have generously responded to God’s call. I thank their parents, parish priests, and all who have contributed to their journey. May they remain faithful to their priestly mission.”
About the new priests
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Avil Santhmayor: Hailing from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Shirthady, he is the son of Charles Santhmayor and Anjeline Crasta. A graduate in Social Work (BSW) from St Philomena College, Puttur, he completed his diaconate ministry at Mother of God Church, Mogarnad.
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Denzil Rodrigues: A native of St Francis of Assisi Church, Nainad, he is the son of Denis and Eliza Rodrigues. He holds a BSW degree and has a sister serving as a religious nun in the Bethany Congregation. He served his diaconate at Holy Cross Church, Cordel.
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Jeevan D’Souza: Son of John and Irene D’Souza, he hails from Our Lady of Dolours Church, Bela. He shared his journey to the priesthood with his twin brother, Jestin. He served his diaconate at Holy Cross Church, Cordel.
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Joel Monteiro: Hailing from Holy Cross Church, Cordel, he is the son of Victor John and Pramila Monteiro. An artist and musician with a BSW degree, he completed his diaconate ministry at Holy Spirit Church, Bajal.
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Loyd Rohan D’Souza: A native of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Madanthyar, he is the son of Lawrence and Rita D’Souza. A graduate in Arts (BA), he is known for his talents in drama and photography. He served his diaconate at Our Lady of Pompei Church, Gurpur.