Moodubelle: Goodbye to Fr. Maxim D’Souza and Welcome to Fr. Lancy Saldanha

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

Moodubelle, 24 April 2010: The month of May is known for goodbyes and welcomes to the priests in different parishes of the Mangalore Diocese as routine transfers do take place in this month as per the directives of the Diocesan authorities. Following these directives, Fr. Maxim D’Souza, the Assistant Parish Priest and Principal of St. Lawrence English Medium High School has been transferred to St. Victor’s Girls High School at Putthur and in his place, Fr. Lancy Saldanha has been transferred from Uppinangady to Moodubelle. Both the programmes of bidding goodbye to Fr. Maxim and extending welcome to Fr. Lancy was organised on Sunday, 23 May 2010.

On Sunday, 23 May 2010, following the 7.30 am Mass a brief farewell function was held in the church. Mrs. Meera Lobo, Secretary of the Parish Council compeered the programme. On behalf of the parish community, Mr. Henry Fernandes, Vice President of the Parish Council bid goodbye to Fr. Maxim and offered him a jasmine garland. Fr. Joswey Fernandes recalled the service rendered by Fr. Maxim during his brief stay of four months in the parish as the Assistant Parish Priest and the Principal of the English Medium School and wished him well in his new assignment.

In his brief address, Fr. Maxim said that he had taken charge of St. Lawrence English Medium School as the Principal on 16 January 2010 and expressed his happiness being in the parish contributing in whatever way he could to the parish community and the English Medium School. He thanked Fr. Joswey, the Parish Priest for his guidance and care, Fr. Paul Sequeira and Fr. Arun Mendonca for their cooperation and the entire parish community for their love and affection. Fr. John Baptist Mendonca, who has come on holidays from Bareilly Diocese in UP was also present for the farewell programme. The sisters of the Loreto Convent offered a garland to Fr. Maxim and bid him farewell. Fr. Maxim will be leaving Moodubelle to Putthur on Monday, 24 May 2010 at 2.30 pm.

In the afternoon on Sunday, 23 May 2010 at around 3.30 pm, a brief function of welcoming Fr. Lancy Saldanha was arranged in the church. Fr. Lancy who was accompanied by the Parish Priest of Uppinangady, Fr. Anil Castelino, Vice President of the Uppinangady Parish Council, Mr. Marcel Viegas and few parishioners was welcomed by the Vice President of the Moodubelle Parish council, Mr. Henry Fernandes and Fr. Joswey Fernandes on behalf of the parish community by offering him flowers.

In his brief address, Fr. Lancy expressed his gratitude to Fr. Anil Castelino, the Parish Priest of Uppinangady and the parishioners for their support and affection and hoped that he would be able to serve in Moodubelle with the guidance of Fr. Joswey and cooperation of Fr. Paul and Fr. Arun and support of the parishioners of Moodubelle. Fr. Maxim Pinto Cap. and sisters from the Loreto convent were also present to the programme to welcome Fr. Lancy Saldanha. Quite a number of parishioners of Moodubelle were present to welcome Fr. Lancy.

Fr. Lancy was born on 20 December 1975 at Belthangady as the 4th child of Marcel and Cossess Saldanha’s 8 children, 4 sons and 4 daughters. After his education up to 10th at Belthangady, Fr. Lancy joined the Minor Seminary at Bolar, Mangalore from where he did his PUC studies from St. Aloysius College (1995-97). Later, he joined St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore and later completed graduation (BA) studies from St. Philomena’s College, Putthur in 2000. After undergoing the training for priesthood, Fr. Lancy was ordained in 2007.

The first assignment of Fr. Lancy was in the church and shrine of Blessed Fr. Joseph Vaz at Mudipu where he had served earlier as a Deacon. Later, realising his interest in teaching, Fr. Lancy was deputed by the Diocesan authorities to study for B.Ed. degree in Dr. T.M.A. Pai College of Education at Manipal and successfully completed the course in 2010. While studying for the B.Ed. degree, Fr. Lancy and Fr. Maxim were classmates. Thereafter, Fr. Lancy was deputed to Uppinangady in February 2010. From Uppinangady, Fr. Lancy has arrived as the Assistant Parish Priest and Principal of St. Lawrence English medium School at Moodubelle.

Bellevision while bidding goodbye and expressing thanks to Fr. Maxim D’Souza for his valuable service in Moodubelle, welcomes Fr. Lancy Saldanha and hopes that St. Lawrence English Medium School will make progress and flourish under him as the Principal.