Fr. Raymond DSouza: The Young and Dynamic Missionary Priest of Allahabad

Report by Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 13 June 2010: Vocation to priesthood is a gift of God nurtured by the inspiration and encouragement of human beings. Young Raymond from Podikambala in the Moodubelle Parish experienced this divine call when he was in the school. This vocation was nurtured by priests like Fr. Alexander Lobo and encouraged by his neighbour late Fr. Michael D’Souza. After completing the training for priesthood in the Allahabad Diocese, Fr. Raymond proved worthy of his vocation. Within a short period of eleven years, Fr. Raymond achieved quite a lot in various fields of the diocesan activities right from pastoral ministry to education and from health care to social work.

 

Fr. Raymond D’Souza was born on 3rd June 1971 as the eleventh among twelve children, five sons and seven daughters of Eliza and Denis D’Souza. Raymond had his primary education in the Church Aided Higher Primary School between 1978 and 1984 and high school studies in St. Lawrence High School, Moodubelle from 1985 to 1988.

While studying in the high school, Raymond participated in NCC and Scouts and Guides activities. He was also interested in sports, both athletics and field games. Being tall, he found place in the high school volleyball team and also participated in other activities such as fancy dress competition. In spite of living far off from the church at Podikambala, young Raymond was a member of the Altar Servers Sodality and was regular to assist the priests during the Mass. After completing SSLC in 1988 from St. Lawrence High School, Moodubelle, Raymond made up his mind to join priestly vocation and chose Allahabad Diocese as the filed for his priestly mission.

When asked as to what made him to join the priesthood and why he chose the Allahabad Diocese, Fr. Raymond said that he was greatly inspired by Fr. Alexander Lobo while he was studying in the higher primary school. Fr. Lobo used to visit various families and show concern for the poor students. Besides, there were a number of young men from his neighbourhood who had joined seminary. He chose Allahabad Diocese because of the encouragement from late Fr. Michael D’Souza, his immediate neighbour who had chosen Allahabad Diocese and was studying theology when Raymond was in the 10th standard.

Having made up his mind to join the priesthood and work in the Allahabad Diocese, Raymond moved to Lucknow for undergoing initial training in St. Paul’s Minor Seminary. Thereafter Br. Raymond studied Philosophy in St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary, Allahabad from 1991 to 1994. Simultaneously, Br. Raymond continued his academic studies and completed intermediate course from Government Husainabad Inter College, Lucknow in 1991 and graduation from the Allahabad University between 1992 and 1994. He was deputed for one year Regency (1994-1995) at the Assumption Church, Dostpur.

While undergoing priestly training in the seminary, Br. Raymond took keen interest in Hindustani music and became the choir master in the seminary. He attended the Summer Hindustani Music School conducted by Fr. Vijayanand at Pachmarhi in MP and acquired diploma in Hindustani Music. He was also interested in electronics, repair of TVs, radio transistors and other electrical appliances in the seminary. Being tall, Br. Raymond was an integral part of the seminary basket-ball team. He was also in charge of the seminary mess and had the opportunity to learn various recipes and delicacies.

Having successfully completed Regency, Br. Raymond continued priestly training and did four yearlong Theological studies at St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary, Allahabad from 1995 to 1999 and was ordained a priest at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Allahabad by Rt. Rev. Dr. Isidore Fernandes on 22nd April 1999. After ordination, Fr. Raymond offered his First Holy Mass at St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on 11th May 1999 along with Rt. Rev. Dr. Albert D’Souza, then Bishop of Lucknow, many priests and religious, family members, relatives and Ward and parish people.

 

 

The first appointment of Fr. Raymond after his ordination was at St. Joseph’s Church, Shaktinagar in Sonebhadra District, around 300 kilometers from Allahabad as the assistant priest and also as the vice principal of St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School where he served for one year from 1999 to 2000. The St. Joseph’s Parish was comprised mostly of poor tribal people living in slums. Being young and enthusiastic with new ideas and full of energy, Fr. Raymond tried to understand the socio-economic conditions of these poor people by regularly visiting them.

Realising that education is the only solution for the long standing problems of poorer sections of the people, Fr. Raymond took initiative to start a non-formal school to give basic education, initially with hundred children and two teachers in a small hut like structure. He is proud to recall that today that school has grown as a primary school. At this place, Fr. Raymond says that he was very much inspired by the example of Fr. Alexander Lobo whose concern for the education of the poor children was great.

Realsing the potential of Fr. Raymond, the Bishop of Allahabad, Dr. Isidore Fernandes appointed him as Assistant Director of Nazareth Hospital and the Nursing College run by the Diocese of Allahabad situated in the heart of the city from 2000 to 2003. During this period, along with his assigned responsibilities, Fr. Raymond completed his post graduate studies and acquired the MA degree from the Avadh University, Faizabad, U.P. in 2002.

Seeing the commitment of Fr. Raymond towards the health care and concern for the sick, the Diocesan authorities deputed him to St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore for advanced studies in Hospital Administration and Health Care in 2003-2004. As the St. John Hospital authorities were quite impressed with the ability and interest of Fr. Raymond, he was offered the post of an Associate Director of the same hospital. However, the Bishop of Allahabad felt that the service of such an able priest was very much required in the Diocese of Allahabad and asked him to return to Allhabad after the completion of the studies.

Soon after his return from Bangalore, Fr. Raymond was assigned the responsibility as the Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick’s Church, Allahabad from 2004 to 2005 where he acquired rich experience in Parish ministry interacting with a large number of youth and children. At the same time, Fr. Raymond continued his education and acquired B. Ed. Degree in 2005 from the Navabharat Shiksha Parishad, Orissa.

After serving barely eight months in the parish of St. Patrick, the Bishop appointed Fr. Raymond as the Director of Diocesan Development and Welfare Society (DDWS) from 2005 to 2008, looking after the social work of the Diocese. In the words of Fr. Raymond, this was the most significant and challenging assignment that he had from the diocesan authorities.

Diocesan Development and Welfare Society (DDWS) was established in the year 1980 with an objective to bring a sustainable change in the society irrespective of any caste, creed and color. The jurisdiction of the DDWS has now spread over 12 civil districts in Uttar Pradesh and 6 civil districts in Bihar. The organization works with the poorest of the poor through its social centers spread out in the remote areas. The philosophy of the DDWS is to work with grass root communities. The DDWS believes in accelerating change. DDWS would go to the people with the aim of building self-reliant community through social action. Over the years it has made a sincere effort to use new strategies to intervene in the community and provide innovative techniques like micro planning to the community.

Helping people to get liberated from any kind of bondages and rescuing children who are in distress and getting them back to their homes are among the chief aims of the DDWS. Fr. Raymond says that the children and young women who were victims of human trafficking were rescued with the cooperation of the law enforcement agencies and allied systems and rehabilitate and reunite them with the families.

During three years of Fr. Raymond’s tenure as the Director of DDWS, around 520 such victims were rescued and rehabilitated for which he was considered for an award known as Abolistionist Award (2007) by the House of Lords in London. He went personally to England to receive this award. Fr. Raymond says that being the Director of DDWS, he had great experience working with poor and marginalised and also feeling their pain and sorrow.

The various projects handled by Fr. Raymond along with his pastoral ministry had greatly impressed the Bishop of Allahabad. Realising the ability of Fr. Raymond to handle any responsible task, he was placed in charge of the Diocesan Construction Department to manage three construction projects in and around Allahabad and was asked to reside at St. Joseph’s Senior Citizens Home.

During one year period, 2008-2009, Fr. Raymond completed the construction of an entire block of ten classrooms for St. Mary’s School in a village called Koraon, 70 kilometers from Allahabad; boundary wall for the compound of the property of Nazareth Hospital at Jushi, 15 kilometers from Allahabd; and a new mission station at a place called Quiamuddinpur, 25 kilometers from Allahabad. It was on the initiative of Fr. Raymond that this property was purchased, school building was constructed and was named as St. Joseph’s Academy.

 

After completing his assigned task, Fr. Raymond was appointed as the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourds Church and also as the Principal of Khristh Jyothi School, Renukoot, Sonebhadra District (260 kms from Allahabad) in July 2009 where he serves till date. There are 65 Catholic families in the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish mostly from Kerala and tribals from Jharkhand. Renukoot is known for Asia’s largest dam and also Asia’s largest Alluminium factory(Hindalco) run by the Birlas. Fr. Raymond says that he has a lot of work at Renukot. Other than carrying on the responsibilities as the Parish Priest and Principal, he is planning to construct a parish hall and a new block for the Kristh Jyothi School.

Fr. Raymond’s parents, Eliza and Denis celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 1st May 2010 with thanksgiving Holy Mass in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle that was concelebrated by 12 priests, Fr. Raymond being the chief celebrant. It was a rare occasion when the parents of Fr. Raymond celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of their wedding in which all their 12 children and their families participated. Most probably this is the only couple in recent times in Moodubelle to have celebrated their Diamond Jubilee of wedding along with all their children.

 

In eleven years of his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Allahabad, Fr. Raymond has achieved quite a lot in terms of pastoral, health care and social work ministries. There are many more years ahead of him during which Fr. Raymond will be able to serve the Diocese of Allahabad in various capacities. Fr. Raymond says that as he looks back to his missionary priestly life of eleven years, he has gained a lot of experience in various fields and love and respect from the people whom he has served in different capacities in different areas. He has also earned confidence and appreciation from the Diocesan Authorities.