Rev. Fr. Vincent D'souza O.C.D., will be returning to his home provincial after serving our parish here in Bahrain for the past nine years.
Fr. Vincent who first stepped in Bahrain on 4th September, 2001 at the invitation of our former Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Felicio Diniz and the appointment of the former Bishop, H. L.Bernard Gremoli, as the Assistant Priest was the youngest of the six siblings whowas born on 4th July, 1968 at Mangalore, India.
After completing his schooling and on attending an Orientation Course in the year 1985 in Xellim, Cancona, Goa, influenced him to join the Seminary. (See video clip: Face to Face – Interview with our Priests on church website) He made his simple profession on 15th October 1989, and Solemn Profession on May 30th 1995 and was later ordained a Deacon on 17th October 1996. The 23rd of April, 1997 was a significant day for him, when he was ordained a priest by H.E. Aloysius Paul D'souza, Bishop of Mangalore.
He completed his Philosophy studies in Pushpashram, Mysore, and Theology at St. Joseph's Seminary, Mangalore, whilst completing his Bachelors of Administration, and later Masters in Sociology along with his commitment as a Conventual, Procurator and Assistant Parish Priest in Coorg and Belgaum.
On his arrival at our parish, he was appointed Spiritual Director of both the English and Konkani Charismatic Prayer Groups. He was also the Spiritual Director of different presidia of Legion of Mary. He was an active priest especially amongst the younger parishioners, joining them in sports and other gainful pursuits.
The Konkani speaking congregation of the Parish benefitted from his strong command of Konkani sermons during the weekly Konkani Obligation Mass. The Konkani Community is indebted to him for his valued contribution rendered to them.
Fr. Vincent motivated many youth and was always available whenever called upon for any help or assistance. Presently, he was given the responsibilities by our current Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Dinesh Mendonca, of being the Spiritual Director of both the Lectors and the Altar Servers Ministry, of which he has revived these two ministries thus making the liturgy more meaningful.
A fitting farewell will be accorded to him on Saturday, 11th September, with a Thanksgiving Mass at 6.30 pm, followed by farewell felicitation program to bid him goodbye by the Clergy and Parishioners and to welcome Rev. Fr. Fredrick D’souza in place of him.
As all parishioners will be missing Fr. Vincent, we thank him for all that he has rendered to us during his tenure here in this parish of Sacred Heart, Bahrain and in the Vicariate of Arabia. We pray that God will bless him abundantly and wish him God’s protection as he continues to serve his Master and Lord in His vineyard of Love and Mercy.
Bon Revoir Fr. Vincent!
….. AND WE EXTEND WARM WELCOME TO
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REV. FR. FREDRICK D’SOUZA
Rev. Fr. Fredrick Peter D’souza, (fondly known as Fr. Freddy), who was born on 23rd October, 1967 is the third sibling in a family of five children to Savera and Severine D’souza, hailing from Vorkady, in Mangalore, India.
After completing his 10th grade in the year 1986, he was influenced during a retreat in his local church and readily decided to join the seminary. Fr. Fredrick was in Goa for a year, Mangalore for the next four and then in Bangalore and Mysore for his major studies in Philosophy and Theology before returning back to Mangalore again.
He was ordained a priest on 20th December, 1998 in his own parish at Vokady, Mangalore and he had the privilege of celebrating is first mass on Christmas Eve of that year.
His first assignment was in Mangalore, rendering his services as a formation teaching the seminarians to become priests in the various centers such as Mangalore, Farangipet, Bangalore and Raichur where he served for long eleven years in the capacity of Director, Training Students.
On 15th November, 2005 he landed in Dubai to represent the biggest challenge in the vast multi-cultural parish in the Emirate, which was a wonderful experience for him to be.
Fr. Fredrick a priest for 12 years loves teaching and has a passion for service, especially the youth. His hobbies being basketball, football, throw ball and has a few good moves on the dance floor too.
As we welcome Fr. Fredrick, to our parish we wish him all the blessings and love of the Almighty and pray that he will have a wonderful pastoral service in this large parish of ours in this Kingdom of Bahrain. |
