Dn. Vikas Mathias for Allahabad Diocese Ordained Priest in St. Antony’s Church, Kuntalnagar

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 14 May 2017: Deacon Vikas Jason Mathias, son of Valerain Mathias (Former Vice President of Kuntalnagar Parish Pastoral Council) and Mrs. Jacinta Mathias was ordained a priest by Most Rev. Dr. Raphymanjali, Bishop of Allahabad in St. Antony’s Church, Kuntalnagar on Sunday, 14 May 2017 in a grand ordination ceremony that commenced at 4.30 pm. Fr. Vikas Mathias has chosen the Allahabad Diocese to serve as a missionary. Around 55 priests, many of them from Allahabad and from Udupi Varado and Mangalore were present. 

 

The ordination mass was concelebrated by Most Rev Dr. Raphymanjali  as the chief celebrant. The Bishop and priests along with Dn. Vikas and his parents Valerian and Mrs. Jacinta Mathias and brother Venil Rohan and sister Viola Jyotsna and other priests and altar servers came in procession through the main door to the altar. 

 

Soon after reading of the Gospel by Dn. Vikas Mathias, to a question from the Bishop, Fr. Eugene Mascarenhas former Vicar General of Allahabad Diocese vouched for the candidacy of Dn. Vikas to be ordained a priest. 

 

Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor of the Udupi Diocese, delivering the homily highlighted how God has been calling ordinary and also extra-ordinary people to his service.  He started the homily by giving the example of Esmeralda Solís Gonzáles, a young Mexican woman who was crowned last year as a beauty queen in her native town, and now she has joined the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

Esmeralda was born on 12 April 1997 in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco State, to a Catholic family. She currently resides at the convent of the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament of Cuernavaca in Morelos State, after leaving her career as a nutritionist. “You really don’t know what religious life is until you’re within it. So far I have been able to see from another perspective what the world is and what it offers you. I was very happy with everything I had, but it does not compare with the happiness that God now places in my heart.” Esmeralda has said to a news channel. 

 

Fr. Valerian Mendonca gave examples from the Church history about the calling of Saul (St. Paul) and St. Augustine to prove the point that God had chosen even the so called former ’tormentor of Christians’ and a ’sinner’ to be His instruments. Jesus chose a fisherman, St. Peter to head His church. God had not called the qualified, but qualified those whom He had called to His service.

 

Addressing Dn. Vikas, Fr. Valerian said that he was called by God to be a missionary in North India and pointed out the duties and responsibilities of a priest. 

 

Soon after the homily,  Bishop Raphymanjali conducted the elaborate ordination ceremony that included the questions to be answered by Dn. Vikas, vow of obedience that Dn. Vikas had to take in front of the Bishop, recitation of the Litany of the Saints as Dn. Vikas lay prostrate in front of the altar, prayer by placing the palms on the head of Dn. Vikas, first by the Bishop followed by other priests as the choir sang the hymn dedicated to the Holy Spirit,  wearing of the priestly vestments assisted by Fr. Raymond D’Souza of Moodubelle and serving in Allahabad Diocese, annointing and consecration of the hands of Dn. Vikas and  handing over the chalice and host by the Bishop to Fr. Vikas Mathias by which Deacon Vikas was ordained as a priest with power to offer the Eucharist and administer other Sacraments to the people. Soon after being ordained, the Bishop embraced Fr. Vikas followed by other priests who kissed the annointed and consecrated hands of Fr. Vikas  and embracing him. 

 

Being ordained a priest, Fr. Vikas Mathias continued the celebration of the Holy Mass. He received the offertory gifts from his family members and celebrated the Eucharist. 

 

At the end of the Mass, following the general blessing from Bishop Raphymanjali, Fr. Vikas Mathias imparted his first priestly blessing. 

 

The ordination liturgy was compered by Fr. Edwin D’Souza, Youth Director of the Udupi Diocese.

 

The choir trained by Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, a renowned musician and composer and Parish Priest of Moodubelle enhanced the spiritual atmosphere of the ordination ceremony through melodious singing.

 

Soon after the mass group photograph with the Bishop, priests and close family members was taken.  

 

Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA from Kaup Constituency along with his wife felicitated Fr. Vikas Mathias by offering him a bouquet of flowers.

 

Felicitation function to honour newly ordained Fr. Vikas Mathias was held in the church premises. The programme began with the singing of a Hindi hymn  composed by Fr. Clement  Mascarenhas.  

 

The dignitaries on the dais included Most Rev. Dr. Raphymanjali, Fr. Louis Mascarenhas, Vicar General of Allahabad Diocese, Fr. Reginald D’Souza, Chancellor of Allahabad Diocese, Fr. Denis D’Sa-Parish Preist of Kuntalnagar and PRO of Udupi Diocese, newly ordained Fr. Vikas Mathias, his parents-Valerian and Mrs. Jacinta Mathias, Vice President and Secretary of Kuntalnagar Parish Pastoral Council- Vincent D’Souza and John Sequeira.

 

Following the welcome address by Fr. Denis D’Sa, Fr. Vikas Mathias along with his parents cut the cake. Thereafter, Fr. Denis D’Sa along with his mother and Fr. Joy Rodrigues from Allahabad whose ordination had also taken place on 14 May, cut another cake. Fr. Denis D’Sa completed 27 years of his priesthood. 

 

Fr. Reginald D’Souza, in his felicitation oration introduced the family of Fr. Vikas Mathias   and briefly narrated the journey of Br. Vikas to priesthood. He was born on 16 June 1989. Had his education up to SSLC in St. Lawrence High School, Moodueblle and joined Minor Seminary Masiha Gurukul at Benaras in 2005 where he completed Pre-University College. Thereafter he joined the Agra Regional Seminary for the study of Philosophy from where he also completed his graduation. He did his Theological studies in the Papal Semianry at Poona and was ordained a Deacon in 2016 and served as Deacon at St. Patrick’s Church. Fr. Reginald D’Souza wished well to Fr. Vikas Mathais in his future assignements in the Allahabad Diocese.

A felicitation song  in honour of Fr. Vikas composed by Fr. Denis D’Sa in folk tune was presented by the choir members of Kuntalnagar. Thereafter, Fr. Denis D’Sa and the Vice President and Secretary felicitated Fr. Vikas by offering him shawl, garland and fruits. 

 

Fr. Vikas and his parents honoured Bishop Raphymanjali by offering him shawl, peta and fruits.

 

In his message, Bishop Raphymanjali congratulated Fr. Vikas on being ordained a priest. He also thanked the parents of Fr. Vikas for sending their son to Allahabad as a missionary. He greatly appreciated the efforts taken by Fr. Denis D’Sa and the Kuntlanagar parishioners in organizing the mega ordination event which was spiritually inspiring. He expressed his happiness for being present and participating in such an event and it was an extremely satisfying and inspiring experience to him.

 

The family members of Fr. Vikas presented a felicitation song followed by honouring of Fr. Vikas by his parents, God-parents and uncles.

 

Fr. Vikas and his parents honoured Fr. Denis D’Sa for organizing meticulously the ordination ceremony and the felicitation function. 

 

Fr. Vikas Mathias felicitated his colleagues who were ordained this year.

 

In his thanksgiving oration, Fr. Vikas Mathias thanked each and every one right from his parents, family members, teachers, lecturers in Seminaries and all those who mattered during his training for priesthood and also those who helped in organizing the ordination ceremony and felicitation function and offered flower garlands and roses to those who were present on the occasion. 

 

Valerian Mathias, father of Fr. Vikas proposed the vote of thanks.

 

Fr. Louis Mascarenhas recited the  grace before the meal.

 

Roshan Sequeira anchored the entire felicitation programme in an excellent manner.