From Among Us - Called to Work in his Vineyard
The arrival of Pilar Missionaries gave a new surge of life in the Parish of Holy Cross Church, Koliwada. Especially under the dynamic leadership of Rev. Fr’s. Joseph Dias and Thomas Gonsalves, everyone in the Parish was filled with the spirit. As a young lad I joined the altar boys’ group of the parish. It was during one of the meetings that Fr. Thomas Gonsalves asked us the question that gave a new direction to my life’s journey” ‘would we like to be priest?’ It was at this time that something stirred me and I was drawn closer to Jesus. The concern and encouragement given by Fr. Thomas helped me to grow in this Divine call. It was during the summer that Fr. Thomas invited us to go for a camp at Pilar. The charm and vivacity of the Pilar missionaries that I experienced through action Songs, Music and Games drew me to join the Pilar Society. It was a gentle invitation to Come, to See and to Follow Him. I was blessed to have the kind of Parents that I had. When I informed them of my desire to join the seminary they were equally overjoyed at the news as me. The adieu was tearful, however, in spite of heavy hearts and gushing tears their only advice for me was that I become a good and holy Priest. It was the prayers of my parents and the people of my home parish: Holy Cross that gave me the grace to march forward in my call, despite difficulties. The years flew and finally the auspicious day arrived and once again with the blessings of my parents and my parishioners on 21st May 1994, I was consecrated to the service of the Lord at Holy Cross Church, Juhu Koliwada. It seems like yesterday and yet it is going to be 29 years since. During this journey, I have encountered quite a many challenges and hardships, but each day, through the prayers of my family and parishioners of Holy Cross Church, I have been strengthened by his Divine grace to work more zealously in His vineyard and thus to closely experience his sweet love. Finally, all that I have to say is…. My dear Parents of Holy Cross Church, be a Pillar of courage for your children to march forward to answer the call of God. Please pray for them, direct them and trust in God’s Providence. My dear Children of Holy Cross Church, always remember that ‘God loves you’, experience HIM through your parents and if you even doubt that HE is calling you, be bold and courageous to Come, to See and to Follow Him.
My mother was a great source of inspiration for me to join the priesthood. I was inspired by the way she was praying the rosary at home and also before the Blessed Sacrament. She sowed the seed of vocation to the priesthood in my life. When I first told her about my desire to be a priest, she just smiled and said, “Son, go ahead. God be with you.” I was ordained on 13th December, 2000 at Holy Cross Parish, Juhu Koliwada. I believe, from her heavenly abode, my mother will be happy to see me as a priest working in the vineyard of the Lord. May her soul rest in peace.
“Called to be an instrument of Love”, was the theme for my Ordination. It is God alone who chooses and calls from among men for a very special Vocation i.e., Priesthood, knowing one’s weakness and belongingness. I felt that my call to Priesthood was something like that. As a small boy, at the age of 10, I was called to join the Pilar fathers, though my parents and Parish Priest felt that I was too small to join at that time (in class sixth). But God’s hand was upon me and so, finally, my parents agreed and always supported me through their prayers and guidance. I had a lot of problems and hardships on the way during the formation period, but as I said, God’s hand was upon me and he had set me apart for this special vocation. These words from my parents “If God has chosen you, you will be his priest, we are just his instruments”, gave me the courage to go ahead in spite of the difficulties. And with God’s grace and blessings, I was ordained a priest on 6th May, 1998 at Holy Cross Parish, Juhu Koliwada. A priest to be “Man of God”.
I feel proud and privileged to belong to Holy Cross Parish, Juhu Koliwada. It was here that I was Born, Baptized, Confirmed and even Ordained as a Priest. Well, if go down the memory Lane, I am reminded of my beautiful days when our priests used to come for house visits. Fr. Joe Dias, Fr. Thomas Gonsalves, Late Fr. Lactancio Almeida, Fr. Diogo D’souza and others were instrumental in sowing the seeds in the minds of young people to join the seminary to become priest. They gave pep talks o the altar servers and one sentence from such a pep talk that inspired me was, “altar servers you are always at the side of the altar, why don’t you try to come in the middle of the altar?” These words got rooted in my mind and my heart. The exemplary lives of our Priests and the prayerful atmosphere at home inspired me to join the Seminary and I joined in the year 1998. My Parents, my brother and sister, Aunty and my sisters in law, and my close relatives, were my strong support and they encouraged me in every stage of my seminary life. I am also grateful to the people of Juhu who by their words of encouragement and prayers have helped me to climb the ladder of priesthood. Life was difficult but the call of Jesus was strong enough for me to overcome all hurdles. I was ordained on 28th November, 2001 at Holy Cross Church, Juhu Koliwada and have completed 20 years in the vineyard of the Lord. I have really enjoyed my priestly life and ministry till date and I am sure with God by my side I will work in His vineyard as long as he wants me to. I believe in the words “I know not what my future is but I know who holds my future”. So, trusting in the providence of God I march forward. My humble request to the parents of Juhu Koliwada to encourage your children to join the seminary. Let the History of priesthood in Juhu not stop but let there be more vocations to priesthood and religious life. God Bless our Parish of Holy Cross, Juhu Koliwada.
Often people do ask me what motivated me to join the priesthood, and I do not have an adequate answer because there isn’t. And yet I am going to complete 9 years as a Priest in the Society of Pilar/ When I was schooling, I loved to serve Mass, and this may have been the initial tug of our loving Lord pulling me to himself. I wanted to be a priest but I did not confide with anyone; also there were family responsibilities too. So, I worked for five years after completing my SSC and then joined the Society. I had to take a break once again after mu Philosophical studies (I left the Society) and worked for another three years in Dubai and then rejoined the society. The path to priesthood was not easy with thoughts of leaving many a times arising in my mind, but the prayers of my family, friends and people around the world finally got me ordained on 04th May, 2013. But this is not the end of the story rather the beginning… There is a lot of work to be done, more time to be spent on the knees praying for various intentions and requests. More and more people are searching for that connect with the Divine and I’m feeling blessed to help them achieve it. Maybe God is tugging at your heart right now. It does not matter who you are, what you have achieved, so long as you remain open to His will, wonders and more wonders will take place in your life and in the lives of those you touch.