Welcome to Sadbhavana : Carmelite Provincialate

HIGHLIGHTS

Farewell to Frs. Ivan D’Souza & Patrick Lobo @ Bajjodi On Sunday, May 28th 2023, the parishioners of Infant Mary Church, Bajjodi carried out a farewell programme in honour of Parish Priest Fr. Ivan D'Souza and Asst. Parish Priest Fr. Patrick Lobo. Fr. Ivan D'Souza, Parish Priest, presided over the 8 a.m. mass, which was assisted by Fr. Patrick Lobo and Fr. Rayan Pinto. Following the mass, a formal felicitation and farewell ceremony was performed in the Parish Hall. The programme commenced with a prayer song performed by Altar Servers followed by a short stage programme by the youth. St. Joseph Monastery Superior Fr. Charles Serrao, Fr. Ivan D'Souza, Fr. Patrick Lobo, Vice President Mr. Prakash Saldanha, and Secretary Mrs. Elizabeth Pereira were all present on the dais. Mrs. Elizabeth Pereira, the Secretary, welcomed everyone. Following Mrs. Stella Dsouza's felicitation message, Asst. Priest Fr. Patrick Lobo was honoured. He received appreciation with a shawl, a garland, fruits, a flower bouquet, a Maan Patr, and a gift. In his saying goodbye, Fr. Patrick Lobo thanked everyone for the love and affection he had received from the parishioners and assured them of his prayers. Fr. Rayan Pinto presented his feelings and sentiments about Fr. Ivan and Fr. Patrick, having lived in the Parish with them. The Parish Choir team sang a farewell song that suited both the priests' personality and their good work. Mrs. Irene Pinto read the message of felicitation to Parish Priest Fr. Ivan D'Souza. He received recognition with a shawl, a garland, fruits, a flower bouquet, a Maan Patr, and a gift.

Five Brothers say “YES” to JESUS for LIFE “Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.” – St. Teresa of Avila. After years of formation and growth in spirit and maturity in the garden of Carmel, five brothers of our province stepped forward to commit themselves to the religious way of life in the ancient Order of Carmel. Bros. Movin Desmond Pereira of Mary, Help of Christians, Br. Jesvin Tom Benoy of the Eternal Word, Br. Prithesh Steeve Crasta of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, Br. Stany Listan Pinto of Sts. Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin and Br. Avith Pais of Infant Jesus were approved by the community as worthy candidates for this way of life and therefore on May 22nd, 2023 at Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte professed their evangelical counsels in the presence of the Provincial Rev Fr Silvestre D’Souza. The mass commenced at 3:30 PM in the presence of family, relatives, and friends of the brothers. Several priests from our communities along with several guest priests joined the celebration. The mass was celebrated in English with the theme being “My Vocation is love”. The brothers were presented to the Provincial by the Master of Students, Fr. Lancy Lovis after which the Provincial sought the purpose from the brothers for their commitment to religious life. During the homily, Fr Silvestre citing several Carmelite Saints along with our Holy Parents and especially emphasizing St. Therese of Child Jesus exhorted the brothers to be holy and genuine Carmelites. After the homily, the entire congregation prayed for the brothers as the latter surrendered themselves to the Will of God. The brothers then proceeded to profess their vows publicly after which with a lot of affection and warmth, they were received into the Carmelite Order.

Ah! The Sheer Grace On Monday, May 1, 2023, six of our Novices, Bros. Calon Ujwal Coelho, Flostan D'Souza, Glawin Lester D'Souza, Jaden Dias, Premraj Monteiro, and Sharon M. D'Souza, made their first religious profession in the garden of Carmel at Tapovana, Kushalnagar. Rev. Fr Silvestre Joseph D'Souza, Provincial Superior, presided over the thanksgiving Eucharist, which was attended by 43 concelebrants, religious nuns, family members and well-wishers of Tapovana. In his homily, the Provincial encouraged them to follow St Therese of Child Jesus' example of faithfulness to the Lord. Following the homily, the Novices professed in the hands of the Provincial. Fr Aaron Babush Rodrigues led the profession rite ceremony. Following the mass, a small felicitation programme was held in which the Novices were introduced by Fr Jeevan Tauro and the Superior proposed the vote of thanks. Bros. Flostan and Sharon extended their appreciation to everyone on behalf of the Professed Brothers. The Provincial initiated the seven postulants into the novices the day before, on April 30, 2023. While admitting them to the novitiate, he urged them to have a come-and-see experience with the Lord and wished them God's blessings as they began their canonical novitiate. The KG Province congratulates the professed Brothers and novices and continues to pray for them.

Walking in Love: The Vision of Fr Silvestre D'Souza, Provincial of KG Province V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Silvestre D’Souza has been elected as the Provincial Superior of the Discalced Carmelites of Karnataka-Goa Province in the 15th Provincial Chapter being held at Pushpashrama, Mysuru on April 21, 2023. He succeeds Fr George Santhumayor, OCD. V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Silvestre D’Souza hails from Nagoa, in the archdiocese of Goa and Daman. Born on April 22, 1971 to devout parents, he did his high school education at St. Joseph's High School in Arpora, Goa and his pre-university studies at St. Xavier's College in Mapusa, Goa. On June 14, 1988, he joined the Carmelite Order and was admitted to the aspirants' house at Xellim, Goa. On October 15, 1990, he made his first religious commitment at the Carmelite Monastery in Margao. He obtained BA in psychology from Madras University while completing his philosophical studies at Pushpashrama, Institute of Philosophy and Religion, in Mysuru. And after a year of regency, he attended St. Joseph's Inter-diocesan Seminary in Jeppu, Mangaluru, to complete his theological formation in view of the priesthood. On May 26, 1996, he made his solemn profession at St. Joseph's Monastery in Carmel Hill, Mangaluru. On October 16, 1997, at St. Joseph's Inter Diocesan Seminary in Mangaluru, Most Rev. Bernard Moras, Bishop of Belgaum, ordained him a deacon. The Most Rev. Filipe Nerri Ferrao, the then Auxiliary Bishop of Goa and Daman, elevated him to the order of the priesthood on April 22, 1998 at Holy Trinity Church, Nagoa, Bardez, Goa.

A New Priest in the Order of Melchizedek The Shrine of Infant Jesus, Pushpashrama, took immense joy in the celebration of the Sacrament of Priestly Ordination of Deacon Naveen Lobo OCD, on 12 April 2023 at 10 - 00 am from the hands of His Grace, Most Rev. Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore and Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Mysore. Fr. Naveen Lobo is the second son of Mr. Lawrence Lobo and Mrs. Dora Lobo and hails from St. Antony’s Church Gopalapura, Shanivarasanthe, North Coorg, Karnataka. Fr. Naveen completed his Philosophical studies at Pushpashrama Institute of Philosophy, at Mysore and Theological studies at St. Joseph’s Inter-Diocesan Seminary at Mangalore. What made the Priestly Ordination a moment of immense celebration was that it was the first time in the Annals of Pushpashrama a Deacon was ordained to the status of the priesthood. Hence there was excitement everywhere. It was heartening to see a huge gathering of priests, both religious and diocesan marching out for the ordination. There was a huge gathering of laity too which added a festive mood to the celebrations.

REGIONAL GATHERING AT XELLIM Friars from five communities of our Province, namely: Xellim, Mapusa, Margao, Matadakeri and Londa, converged at Divine Springs, Xellim, on the 28th of March 2023 for the last regional gathering of this triennium. The first half was a Lenten recollection preached by Fr. Estevão Rodrigues OFM Cap. The Eucharist that followed, was presided over by the newly ordained priest, Fr. Rakesh Parmar, while Fr. Jeevan Tauro broke the Word of God. After a dainty meal, around one and a half hours were spent in fellowship and fraternal sharing. 15 friars were present and happy to spend this time together. Thanks to the host community. Though Fr. Alvito Fernandes was away due to prior commitments, he had made all arrangements along with the other members of his community. Long live our Carmelite fraternity!

26th Convocation Day at Dhyanavana Dhyanavana celebrated its 26th convocation day on March 19, 2023, making it a special day. At 11:00 am, Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor, the Provincial Superior, Fr. John Sequeira, the Rector of Pushpashrama, Fr Vinod Lobo and the community friars celebrated the thanksgiving Holy Eucharist. Fr. John stressed in his homily the importance of divinity in a person's life, which finally culminates in one’s spirituality. The convocation ceremony started at 6:00 p.m. in the evening. Mrs. Clara Fernandes' convocation address on the role of women in decision-making is also very timely and relevant. Women's perspectives and voices are important in all aspects of life, including spirituality and religious leadership. The President, Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, OCD, Provincial Superior, released the Dhyanavana Souvenir and congratulated the graduates. The Chief guest was Archbishop Emeritus Bernard Moras, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mysore, who presented the diploma certificates to the sisters. Fr Dominic Vas, the Director, welcomed everyone, and Fr Rathan Almeida, Dean of Studies, gave a detailed report on the life and activities of Dhyanavana.

Convocation Ceremony at Ryshivana The 15th Convocation ceremony took place at Ryshivana, Mangalore on March 13, 2023 at 6-00 pm. Rev. Fr. Charles Serrao, Superior of St Joseph’s Monastery, Carmel Hill, Mangalore officiated the Holy Eucharist and preached a meaningful homily. The day's chief guest, Fr. Deep Fernandes, released the souvenir of the institute. The certificates were given to 25 Sisters. The convocation discourse was delivered by Rev. Fr. Archibald Gonsalves, Director of Ryshivana. Sr. Sugandhi proposed the vote of thanks. Several priests and nuns witnessed the convocation ceremony.

Ordination of a Fourth Priest from Gujarati soil On February 19, 2023, Fr Rakesh Parmar was ordained as a priest by His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Most Rev. Stanislaus Fernandes, Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Baroda. The ordination ceremony was held at Gorwa's Infant Jesus Church. It was a spiritual celebration, with many Carmelites, diocesan priests, family, friends, and well-wishers in attendance to witness this significant milestone in Fr Rakesh's life. The archbishop presided over the entire ceremony and delivered a homily on the importance of the priesthood and the role of priests in serving God and the community. Concelebrants included Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior, and other Carmelite priests from the Province's various communities, as well as religious and diocesan priests from the Diocese. The archbishop anointed Fr Rakesh with holy oil as a symbol of his anointment as God's servant. He was dressed in the stole and chasuble by Fr Rudolph Pinto, two important symbols of the priestly office, as part of the ceremony. The Ordination liturgy was animated by Fr Jignesh Solanki. Fr Rakesh proposed the vote of thanks at the end of the mass and commended the Carmelite family, benefactors, family members, and everyone who had played a significant role in his priestly formation. The Priestly Ordination was an emotional and memorable day for everyone who attended, as it marked the beginning of a new chapter in Rakesh's life as a priest. The KG Province congratulates Fr Rakesh on being the fourth priest from Gujarat and wishes him God's richest blessings as he continues Christ's mission as a Carmelite.

The Last Journey of Mother Marie Gemma All roads led to Carmel Ashram, Makarpura, Vadodara, Gujarat on January 21 at 4.00 pm when the soul of Mother Gemma, the Pioneer-Prioress of the Cloistered Carmel of Prem Jyot Carmel Ashram who served three consecutive terms and more and the first Coordinator of the Association of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, South West India who served here too for three consecutive terms was laid to rest. It was a solemn Eucharistic celebration – a fitting honour to a saintly religious who lived a spirit-filled life to the full, offering herself entirely to her Beloved JESUS and to all those He sent into her life, like a candle utterly spent. Her last words in her agonizing pain were JESUS, JESUS, JESUS! The funeral Mass was officiated by two Bishops, the Apostolic Administrator of Baroda Abp. Stanny Fernandes and the Abp. of Gandhi Nagar Thomas Macwan accompanied by 21 priests some of whom had her as their spiritual director and some had made their retreat under her guidance. The Holy Eucharist began at 4.00 pm. At the Chapel of Our Lady Cause of Our Joy and St. Joseph – the Chapel of Carmel Ashram. The readings chosen were that Mother Gemma was fond of, beginning with the first reading from the Song of Songs, Chapter 2 which says, ‘Come my beloved…for see the winter has past…that I may see your face, and hear your voice for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful.’ Those words seemed so true about her.

THREE CARMELITES ASCEND GOD'S ALTAR “Whatever God prefers and chooses for me – that is what I like best. It is what he does that I love.” This quote is true in the life of all of us. Everyone receives a call and occasionally some he also calls to be vicars on earth – He calls them Priest of his own heart! The Carmelite Order, specifically the Karnataka-Goa Province was blessed this year to receive three priests into its field! These chosen ones are Fr. Melwin Lasrado, Fr. Nikesh D’Souza and Fr. Kiran Lobo. Having undergone a demanding yet sincere formation of 13 years, the elders of the Province with the due approval of the local Bishop saw them fit candidates for Priesthood. And thus they were ordained! On the 1st of February, they were ordained as priests at the Infant Jesus Shrine, Mangalore by His Excellency Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of Mangalore during the mass at 10 AM. The shrine was filled with the family, friends, and well-wishers of the ordinandi. In the presence of 78 priests from the province, diocese, and other congregations, the Bishop anointed them with the Holy Oil. During the Homily, the Bishop underscored the specific role of the priest and how his life is modelled after the Supreme High Priest, Jesus Christ! After being ordained priests, the new priests blessed the congregation and brought immense joy to the entire Church of God! General Definitor of the Carmelite Order Fr. Pius James D’Souza and Provincial Superior Fr. George Santhumayor along with Fr. Charles Serrao, the Superior of St. Joseph’s Monastery greeted the priests with the Kiss of Peace. The Carmel Choir lent their melodious voices with the congregation in praise to the Lord and the commentary for the mass was done by Fr. Rudolph Pinto. After the mass, Fr. Melwin on behalf of the ordained priests thanked all of those responsible for their ascent to the Altar. Fr. George Santhumayor thanked the Bishop for accepting to ordain these shepherds and also the parents for gifting their sons to the Order. The Bishop also spoke words of praise and wished blessings and grace on the new priests. Thus, the solemn mass came to a conclusion at 12:15 PM after which the people were escorted to lunch!

Parish Annual Day at Bajjodi The Annual Feast of Infant Mary Parish, Bajjodi was celebrated with great pomp and fervour on Sunday the 29th of January 2023. The celebration began with the honouring of Infant Mary in a procession to the Church that was held at 9.45am. The Benefactors and Sponsors of the Feast were honoured with blessed candles by the Rev. Fr. Patrick Lobo at 9.50am followed by The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration at 10am. Rev. Fr. Santhosh Rodrigues, (Director – Pastoral Institute, Bajjodi) was the main Celebrant. Eight priests con-celebrated the Eucharist. Rev. Fr. Santhosh Rodrigues in his message requested the parishioners to focus on Family. He said that Our Lady should be honoured in every family by reciting the Holy Rosary every day and invited them to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Family. As this year has been declared as the 'Year of The Family, the Parish Pastoral Council took the opportunity to conduct the Liturgy. The Church Choir lifted the spirits of the gathering with their singing. After the Holy Eucharistic Celebration, a Fancy Fete was organised by the PPC & ICYM from 11.30 am to 2 pm. There was a big crowd at the fete - relishing the delicacies at the food counters and enthusiastically participating at the games counters.

Infant Jesus Feast and Silver Jubilee of Carmel Ashram, Katkere, Koteshwar The solemn feast of Infant Jesus and the silver jubilee of the monastery were celebrated at Carmel Ashram Katkere, Koteshwar on 21st Saturday, 2023. Most Rev. Jerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi presided over the Eucharist. Rev. Fr. Joseph D Souza, Superior of Asha Deepa, Madantyar preached the homily. Along with Fr. George Santhumayor around thirty priests were concelebrated in the Eucharist. Fr. Alwyn Sequeira thanked all former Provincials, Superiors, and members who toiled tirelessly to build Carmel Ashram over the course of time. He also thanked the Bishop and deanery priests for the opportunities they gave to render pastoral services in the diocese thus far. He recalled all the Carmelite communities who generously contributed to the construction of the new kitchen and renovation of the house. Frs. Dolphy D’Souza and Felix Moras of happy memory were especially remembered during the celebration. Fr. Deep Fernandes read out the names of the donors and Fr. Boniface D'souza the founder and two times Superior of Carmel Ashram honoured them. Fr. Aaron Babush conducted the Choir and Fr. Vishan Vinu Monis played the keyboard. The members of the Choir comprised from different parishes of the deanery.

Carmelite Fraternity at Carmel Hill The concluding day of the Novena, January 13, 2023, was remembered with gratitude by all Carmelite friars as they celebrated their brotherhood as Carmelites and gave thanks to the Infant Jesus. Rev. Fr. Pius James D'Souza, Definitor General, officiated the Holy Eucharist together with all the Carmelite friars of the KG Province. Using the best illustrations from the Sacred Scripture, Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor delivered a poignant homily and urged everyone to be obedient to the Lord. The day's theme, "May your hearts be entirely committed to the Lord," reinforced the idea that the Lord chooses religious leaders who would fully obey his laws and act in the way that Jesus has modelled for us. The religious are individuals who resist the devil's temptations, the world's allures, and earthly pleasures. The entire congregation suffers and departs from the Lord if religious leaders are not devoted to the Lord. As a result, one of the community's main goals is to pray for the religious leaders. On the final day of the novena to the Infant Jesus, special prayers were offered to all the religious. At the same time, all the Carmelites expressed their gratitude to the Infant Jesus for all His blessings and prayed for His specific graces as they will continue on the road that our Lord had outlined for them.

Christmas Fraternity at Empoli The Carmelite friars of the Karnataka-Goa Province (including the Vicariate of Tanzania) in Italy stayed faithful to the long-standing tradition of celebrating their fraternity at Christmas, by gathering together at Empoli on December 28. A total of 12 fathers and 4 brothers serving and/or studying in various parts of Italy were present with some coming a day earlier to help with the arrangements. Rev. Fr Pius D’Souza, the Definitor General, also graced the occasion with his presence. The celebration formally began with the mass at noon. Fr Ambrose D’Souza, in honour of his 50 years of life, presided over it, while Fr Raymond Sangu, the latest arrival to Italy, shared an inspiring reflection. The brothers elevated the liturgy with their singing. A sumptuous lunch followed, prepared under the guidance of Frs Roshan and Elias, and accompanied by Frs Ambrose, Ajith and Selva. The meal table reverberated with the sounds of laughter and camaraderie characteristic of a vibrant fraternal communion. All those who celebrated or were to celebrate birthdays and ordination anniversaries were felicitated with a cake cut in their honour. Each one also shared the experience of their life in Italy and looked forward to the future with hope. The meal concluded with a word of sincere gratitude to the community of Empoli for hosting the gathering. Once again, all the friars put their hands together to put everything in order, before some who had to return to their respective ministries began saying their goodbyes. It was a day to remember that gave each one a sense of home away from home. May the Christ Child continue to strengthen this beautiful bond of fraternity in Carmel.

Fr Patrick celebrates 50 years as a priest On December 23, 2022, Fr Patrick Lobo, celebrated the golden jubilee of Priesthood and his selfless service to the Church and Society. Fr. George Santhumayor, Provincial; Fr. Valerian Lobo, brother of Fr Patrick Lobo; Fr. James Dsouza, City Deanery Dean; Fr. Michael Santhumayor, Carmelite Priests and Brothers from Carmel Hill, Asha Deepa, Carmel Ashram, Ryshivana, and Sadbhavana were present. At 5 p.m., the jubilarian celebrated the mass along with 28 priests and the faithful. Fr. Santhumayor delivered an inspiring homily. At the conclusion of the Mass, Parish Priest Fr. Ivan D'Souza wished Fr. Patrick Lobo and thanked everyone. Following the mass, there was a Felicitation Program in the Parish Hall. The programme began with a prayer song performed by the Altar Servers, followed by a welcome dance performed by small children. The Parish Priest welcomed dignitaries and the crowd. Following that, there was a Cake Cutting Ceremony. Fr. Maurice Dsouza OCD proposed a toast, after which a video of Fr. Patrick Lobo's life was shown. The jubilarian was then awarded the Shawl, Peta, garland, fruits, and Maan Patr during the Felicitation. Mrs Irene Pinto, the PPC Secretary, read and presented Maan Patr. The Choir sang a lovely song to Fr. Patrick Lobo.

Shivamogga MCS Inauguration and Blessing On December 19, 2022, Mount Carmel School Shivamogga was officially inaugurated and blessed. Along with the guest priests, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao, Bishop of Shimoga, and Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor, Provincial, were welcomed and led to the dais by the school band. The plaque was unveiled by Frs. Lawrence D'Mello and Provincial. Frs. Jerome Moras, Provincial and the Bishop, cut the ribbon to officially open the brand-new school building. Later, the bishop blessed the structure at the prayer of blessing and Holy Water.  The Most Reverend Francis Serrao, Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor, Rev. Fr. Stany Dsouza, the Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral and Dean of the Carmel Deanery, Rev. Fr. Deep Fernandes, the Provincial Councillor for Spirituality, Mr. Basavraj, the ECO of Shimoga, and Rev. Pastor P D Yesudas were all present on the dais for the stage programme that followed. Fr. Wilson D'Costa welcomed the guests with the assistance of the kids and staff, and Fr. Nelson Pinto officiated as the master of ceremonies.

Christmas Celebration with the Differently Abled in Bengaluru Dhyana Jyothi Trust run by the Carmelite Fathers and Good Sam Foundation jointly organized a Christmas celebration for the differently abled and visually impaired on Dec 18, 2022 at KROSS, Da Costa Layout, Bengaluru. Speaking at the occasion Kiran PB the Police Inspector at Pulakeshinagar-Bengaluru said, "I am very much touched by this program. We the Police very rarely get invitations to such programs. It is due to the prejudice and fear that the public have with regard to the Police. Present day police department is very public friendly and works 24x7 for the good and safety of the people." Kiran PB is one of the youngest to get the Chief Minister's Gold Medal for meritorious service in the year 2012 and his family runs a NGO where mentally retarded children are taken care of. Rev Fr Richard Pais, the Director of KROSS delivering the Christmas message said, celebration of festivities should help people to destroy the walls of division and build bridges among people of different caste and creed. In the cultural program that followed Christmas carols were sung in different languages and Santa distributed Sweets. Fr. Stifan Perera, OCD the Director of Dhyana Jyothi Trust distributed blankets and other Christmas gifts and goodies to all those present. He then thanked all the donors for sponsoring the blankets to the needy in the society. Dhyana Jyothi Trust established by the Carmelite Fathers and Good Sam Foundation by David and Nelly Pichard work for the well-being of the differently abled especially the visually impaired. Mrs Nelly Prichard compered the program.

Triple Celebrations at Ryshivana On December 14, 2022 St. John of Cross OCDS community of Ryshivana, Ranipura, Mangalore had triple celebrations: Patron's Feast, Annual Day and Christmas Celebration. Fr. Joe Tauro presided over the Solemn Holy Eucharist and the community fathers concelebrated at 6.00 pm, and Fr Taruo delivered a meaningful homily. The OCDS members animated the liturgy actively and brought a variety of kusvar for the offertory procession. After the Mass, all the OCD Friars and OCDS members gathered in the hall for a cultural get together marked by cake cutting, carols singing, a skit scripted by Fr. Nelson Pinto OCD with a Christmas message, revealing Christmas friends and exchanging gifts. Fr. Archibald Gonsalves, the Superior delivered a brief Christmas message, Mr. Paul D’Souza shared his experience of being an OCDS, Fr. John Lobo prayed the grace over the delicious meals that were cooked by the members in their homes. The entire event was planned and directed by the Spiritual Assistant Fr. Wilfred Rodrigues OCD.

CARMEL DAY 2022 @ CARMEL HILL “Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” – Leo Buscaglia One of the rich heritages of the Monastery of St. Joseph, Mangaluru is Carmel Day. Carmel Day - a day of the brothers, as they earn the spotlight for the day by presenting their talents to the people of the vicinity and also those who come from afar. The stage in front of the talent isn’t just the showcase of the talents of the brothers but is also the witness of how rejuvenated and spirited these young men are to employ their God-given gifts for the greater benefit of society. After a long gap of two years due to Covid-19, the community organized Carmel Day 2022 on 10th December at 5:45 PM. The president of this auspicious event was Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, the Provincial of the Carmelite KG Province and the chief guest was the well-known and noted dramatist Nellu Permannur. The event which spanned for a little over two hours was packed with lots of entertainment. It involved melodious Acapella Singing, a retro-based dance and musical piece encompassing a large assortment of musical instruments. The compeering was also unique and creative. The event also involved speeches from the guests of the evening. Mr. Nellu Permannur was honoured for his contribution to drama and art and he along with the Provincial released a book ‘Discourses on St. Joseph’ – a compendium of various themes on St. Joseph presented by the brothers in the past year. The star event of the evening was the drama based on the tradition Carmel Hill has received over the past three decades. The drama this year was titled “Zalle Bori Zatha” written by Fr. JoCy Siddakatte and directed by Mr. Manish Derebail. The drama spanned over an hour and a half and involved an intricate plot based on the issues of greed over property, etc.

Infant Mary Parish Sports Meet held at Padua School Grounds Bajjodi: The Annual sports meet of Infant Mary Parish was organized on Sunday, December 4th 2022 at Padua School Grounds. Fr. Rovel Dsouza, Shrine Director, Infant Jesus Shrine, the Chief Guest the day, hoisted the flag which was followed by the March Past. Teams of ten wards participated and marched to the tune of the band. They were all dressed in colourful uniforms adding uniqueness and vibrancy to the ground. The stage programme began with a prayer song by the Altar Servers. Vice President Mr. Prakash Saldanha welcomed everyone. Fr. Rovel Dsouza inaugurated the Meet by lighting the Sports Torch which was carried around by 4 Athletes of the Parish. The Torch Bearers - Leslie Rego, Newman Mendonca, Shreya D'souza and Verina Pinto ran along the track with the torch which was then passed on to ICYM Sports Secretary - Sumeeth Fernandes, who in turn handed it over to the Guest of Honour. Command was given by N.C. C. Cadet Erel Cornelio. A bunch of balloons were released in the air and the Sports Meet - 2022 was declared Open. In his message, Fr. Rovel D'souza said that Playing must not only be to win against the opponent but to bring us together and thus bring out the unity and team spirit in us. Participation in games and sports makes the community active, which in turn, builds up unity.

A Psycho-Spiritual Course for the Junior Sisters of the Federation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, India With a constant emphasis on good formation at all meetings, Pastoral Visitations etc., the Federation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, India organized a much-needed course on Psycho-Spiritual Integration for its junior Sisters. The Course was graciously hosted gratis by the Karnataka-Goa Province at its Provincial House, Sadbhavana, Bangalore, from October 19 to November 18, 2022 with three of its friars as resource persons. 18 Sisters from the Carmels of Bengaluru, Chicalim, Hassan, Kurnool, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Pune, and Vadodara participated. Fr. Ronald D'Souza OCD chalked out the programme together with Fr. Alwyn Sequeira OCD. Dr. Lavina and Fr. Regan D’Souza OCD were the other two resource persons. On October 19th the inaugural Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial, who invited the sisters to renew their lives in accordance with the mind of our Holy Parents. On October 26th the group was blessed with the presence of Rev. Fr. General who presided over the day’s Eucharist and addressed them on how to be joyful Carmelites within the four walls of Carmel.

Superior General’s Fraternal visit to KG Province Very Rev. Fr. Miguel Márquez Calle, Superior General of the Order landed at Sadbhavana on 10th October 2022 and was warmly welcomed by the community friars of Sadbhavana along with the Cloistered Carmel sisters. At 09-00 am he had a meeting with the Cloistered sisters of our Mount Carmel Federation and in the afternoon he met them individually. On the 11th of October, he along with Frs. Pius James D’Souza our Definitor and George Santhumayor our Provincial visited Pushpashrama where he had a meeting with the Fathers and Brothers. Later he paid a visit to Dhyanavana and at 12-00 pm had the Mass at the Shrine. After noon, he visited the Spirituality Institute Dhyana Sadhana and the Cloistered Carmel. After which, he travelled to Tapovana, Kushalnagara. On the 12th of October, he celebrated the mass with the novitiate community friars and began the journey to Asha Deepa, Madanthyar where he met the fathers and brothers in common. Afternoon, he visited the Cloistered Carmel of Mangalore and later visited St Joseph’s Monastery, Carmel Hill, Mangalore. He met with the Carmelite Family of Mangalore from 5-30 pm to 6-30 pm. In the evening, he met both Brothers and Fathers of the community.

Asha Deepa Seminary Day The annual ASHA DEEPA DAY was held on December 4, 2022, at the seminary grounds. At 6.30 p.m., the Cultural bonanza began. The President of the day was Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior. Rev. Fr. Basil Vas, the Parish Priest of Madanthyar, was the Chief Guest. The prayer song was followed by two inventive dances and a musical piece performed by the young brothers. As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of St Therese of Lisieux's beatification, the brothers sang a Chorus in her honour (lyrics and tune by Fr Alwyn Sequeira, harmonized by Fr Aaron Babusha Rodrigues). The brothers' performance of Fr Nelson Pinto OCD's drama 'Jillibaiecho Shermanv' was the icing on the cake. The entire drama kept the audience on their toes, and the brothers' performance on stage captivated the entire audience. The gathering was welcomed by Fr Joseph D'Souza, Superior of Asha Deepa. The vote of thanks was proposed by Fr Richard Saldanha, Director of Students. The programme was compeered by Bros. Aiqwin and Ashwin. The complete program was well-organized, and the Brothers worked hard to bring out their hidden talents on stage. The KG Province congratulates these little brothers for their outstanding performance and continues to pray for them as they continue their journey in Carmel.

Inauguration and Blessing of Divya Sadan November 18, 2022 Friday is a day to be rejoiced and remembered as the K. G. Province inaugurated and blessed the new monastery Divya Sadan at the capital city of Bengaluru. The inauguration was done by Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior by cutting the ribbon and later Fr Charles Serrao, the former Provincial conducted the prayer of blessing and blessed the monastery with the Holy Water. The Eucharist was presided over by Provincial and in his homily, he invited all to have the experience of Emmaus as we bless and inaugurate the new monastery. After the mass a short programme was conducted where Fr Prakash D’Cunha compeered the event. The contractor, architect, engineer and the concerned people were honoured for their toil towards the construction of the monastery. Fr Provincial and the councillors felicitated Fr Charles Serrao who was responsible for building the edifice during his term as Provincial. Fr Provincial and Prakash thanked the Cloistered Nuns who generously donated the land to the Carmelites and in the name of all the Sisters, Sr Celine was felicitated. Later Fr Provincial lauded the dedicated and committed work of Fr Prakash D’Cunha who worked tirelessly in the completion of the monastery work. The ceremony was attended by the friars of Bengaluru region and also Frs. Alwyn Sequeira and Deep Fernandes along with the chosen invited guests who had supported the project of Divya Sadan. The monastery is functional and Frs. Jovel Oliver and Roshan Monteiro are residing at Divya Sadan and simultaneously they will continue to pursue their studies. Both the friars are attached to the Sadbhavana community till the Provincial Chapter. As we thank God for his bountiful blessings and graces, we are grateful to all the friars and benefactors who have contributed towards the completion of the monastery. May Jesus be their reward.

Ruby Jubilee of Tanzania Vicariate Inaugurated A very great milestone in the history of Carmelite Vicariate of Tanzania was unveiled on 6th of November 2022. It was the inauguration of the Ruby Jubilee (40 years) of Carmelite presence in Tanzania. Rev. Fr. Praveen Frank, the Regional Vicar together with V. Rev. Fr. George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior, presided over the Eucharistic Celebration. All the Friars were present for this great event. Beginning of the Eucharist the history of the Order and Vicariate was read and the Ruby Jubilee Logo was unveiled by Fr. Provincial and Fr. Vicar, the Ruby Jubilee Candle was lit by Frs. Sylvester Msemwa, Aureus Mwinuka, and Reginald Mworia together with Rev. Fr. Praveen Frank, Regional Vicar. All the Parishes where our service is given were represented and brought a lot of offertory and gifts. It was a great gathering and joyful celebrations. After the mass there was the cutting of the Jubilee cake and agape.

OCDS Regional Gathering The OCDS Regional Gathering (Konkani) was held from October 23-24, at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Shanti Kiran, Bajjodi, Mangaluru. St Teresa of Avila Community, Bikarnakatte, hosted the event. The theme Moriyechi sasai Carmel oddichi ghotai (Mother Mary protectress of Carmel) was the golden thread that sewed the whole gathering. 77 OCDS members from 8 Communities (St Joseph’s – Mira Road, St Teresa of Avila – Londa, Little Flower – Mysuru, Flos Carmeli – Honnavar, Infant Jesus – Koteshwar, Infant Mary – Bajjodi, St John of the Cross – Ryshivana, and St Teresa of Avila – Bikarnakatte) and 5 Spiritual Assistants participated in this meet. The gathering was opened on October 23 at 9:30 a.m. by the Delegate Provincial Rev. Fr Deep Fernandes. Rev. Fr Lawrence D'Cunha, spiritual assistant of St. Joseph Community at Mira Road, was the chief guest. Mrs Jacintha Lobo (President – St Teresa of Avila, Bikarnakatte) welcomed the gathering. Mrs. Benedicta D’Souza (St Teresa of Avila, Bikarnakatte) compered the program.

“Make me a servant, humble and meek.” October 5th was a red-letter day for the Carmelites as Br. Naveen Lobo was ordained deacon at Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte. He was raised to the ranks of the clergy by Rev Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of Mangalore. The ceremony was held at 4:00 PM and was attended by many Carmelite priests, family, and friends of Dn Naveen. His parents and siblings came all the way from Somarpet, Kodagu – the place from which Dn Naveen hails. Along with the Bishop, Fr Deep Fernandes, Councillor for Spirituality, and Fr Charles Serrao, the Superior of St. Joseph’s Monastery, celebrated the mass in the presence of over 15 other priests. Fr Charles recommended Dn Naveen as an able candidate for the same and the Bishop duly respected and declared him the same. Fr Deep clad the deacon with the dalmatic after which he received the ministry of the diaconate from the hands of the Bishop to preach the Gospel. After the mass, the Bishop wished Dn Naveen strength for his ministry and Dn Naveen in turn thanked the Bishop and all those who played an important part in his formation. The Carmel Choir lent their voices for the melodious singing during the mass.

Sr Therese Marie commits herself to JESUS in CARMEL On October 1, 2022, the Cloistered Carmel of Mangalore had reason to rejoice and jubilate as Sr Therese Marie of Divine Mercy made her solemn profession on the feast day of St Therese of Child Jesus. The Eucharist was presided over by the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore. Fr. George Santhumayor, Provincial of KG Province, preached an inspiring homily inviting the faithful to detach themselves from the world and attach themselves to the person of Jesus Christ. He lauded Sr Therese Marie's boldness in embracing life within the four walls of Carmel in order to be forever united to Jesus. There were 14 priests and a large number of religious and laity attended the profession mass. Following the homily, Sr Therese Marie made her solemn profession in the hands of Sr Mary Mabel, Prioress of Mangalore Carmel.

Carmel Sannidhi Monastery @ Carmel Giri September 27th, 2022 is a day to be celebrated and cherished for the Karnataka Goa Province as it inaugurated and blessed the newly built monastery, Carmel Sanndhi at Kadaganchi, Kalaburagi. The inauguration and blessing of the monastery were held at 10-30 am by Most Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga, and Rev. Fr George Santhumayor, Provincial Superior of KG Province. There were a large number of Carmelites representing the various communities of the Province and the religious and diocesan priests of the vicinity. After the blessing and inauguration, the thanksgiving Holy Eucharist was presided over by the Bishop. Fr Dominic Vas preached an inspiring homily. Towards the conclusion of the mass, the Blessed Sacrament was taken in procession and was installed at the monastery chapel by the Bishop. The spiritual celebration was followed by a stage programme where the contractor, engineers, labourers and donors were honoured and felicitated for their mighty share in the construction of the monastery. Fr Provincial in his address recalled the history and thanked the pioneers and all the friars who toiled experiencing the hardships of life. The Bishop congratulated the Carmelite friars for their contribution to the diocese of Gulbarga. Fr Prakash D’Cunha compered the stage programme. Fr Ligoury Crasta, Superior proposed the vote of thanks. After the programme, lunch was served to all.

Nativity and Family Feast at Bajjodi The feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Monthi Fest, was celebrated with great devotion at Bajjodi on Thursday, the 8th of September, 2022. Blessing of the new Corn was held at Church Grounds at 7.15 am followed by an offering of flowers. The congregation went in a procession to the Church singing devotional hymns. Fr. Nelson Pinto was the main Celebrant. Parish Priest Fr. Ivan D’Souza, Fr. Patrick Lobo, Fr. Rayan Pinto, Fr. Antony Shera concelebrated at the Eucharist. In his homily, Fr Nelson Pinto expounded on the uniqueness of the feast and stressed the role of the family in the Church. After mass Fr. Ivan D’Souza thanked everyone for their wholehearted support for the success of the feast. Blessed grains and sugarcanes were distributed to the parishioners after Mass. The Parish family joined together at 5.30 pm in the Parish Hall for a celebration as a community that began with a Prayer song by the Altar Servers. It was followed by Prayers of the Faithful which was led by Fr. Ivan D’Souza. The members of the Spiritual Commission offered prayers in different languages to show our unity in the parish as parishioners of various lingual backgrounds were present.

The first Canadian Carmelite is ordained The ripples of September 3, 2022, will appear not only in the Carmelites of the Canadian Delegation but also in the Carmelites of the Karnataka Goa province. It was the day of Deacon Frank Sharma's priestly ordination as Canada's first Carmelite. The ordination ceremony began at 10:00 a.m. in Edmonton's magnificent St. Joseph's Basilica. Deacon Frank Sharma was ordained by His Eminence Richard Smith, Archbishop. The concelebrants were Rev. Fr. Jerald D'Souza, Delegate Provincial, Fr. Rudolf D'Souza, Councillor, and other Carmelites and Diocesan priests. The newly ordained priest was vested by Fr. Roshan D'Souza, Superior of Mount Carmel Spirituality Centre in Edmonton. The ceremony was attended by a large number of priests, 19 of whom were Carmelites. Besides the family and relatives of Deacon Frank Sharma, there were around 400 lay faithful who witnessed the occasion. The spiritual celebration concluded at 11:25 a.m., immediately after lunch was served to attendees in the Basilica's hall, and was followed by cake cutting. Indeed, the blessing of a new Priest was a proud moment for Karnataka Goa province and the Carmelites of the Canadian Delegation. We thank God for His abundant blessings. We congratulate Fr Frank Sharma and accompany him through our prayers.

Attempt to Sustain Tradition “The sustenance of Konkani culture that was fostered by generations of Konkans is possible if the new generation nurtures it for posterity” Infant Mary Parish organized an Inter ward Voviyo verse Competition for the parishioners at Infant Mary Church hall on August 21st 2022, to mark 30 years since Konkani was included as an official language in the Indian Constitution. Mr. Joseph Mascarenhas welcomed the gathering. Parish Priest Fr. Ivan D'souza invoked God's blessings. Nine of the ten wards took part in the competition. The competition was tough with one group better than the other. Mrs. Irine Rebello and Mrs. James Dsouza judged the competition. Mr. Joseph Mascarenhas Compered the programme. Mr. Santhosh Veigas proposed the vote of thanks. As a token of gratitude, a momento each was presented to the judges. Mrs. Irine Rebello spoke words of appreciation and in her message gave the importance and the ways in which the voviyos and verse need to be sung. Fr. Ivan D'souza thanked everyone for their support and enthusiasm.

Konkani Manyatha Divas celebrated with an Antique Exhibition at Infant Mary Parish, Bajjodi 'Konkani Manyatha Divas’ is the inclusion of Konkani as an official language in the Eighth schedule of Indian Constitution in 1992. Infant Mary Parish organized an Exhibition of collection of age old items at Infant Mary Church hall on August 21st 2022, on the occasion of Konkani Manyatha Divas. An exhibition of antiques was inaugurated at Infant Mary Church hall on Sunday, the 21st of August 2022, at 8am with the beating of the Gumott instrument wherein children and parishioners were present. All the catechism children were given the explanation of all the items and their uses thereafter. The exhibition included 250 displays of antiques and magazines. Children and parishioners expressed their views and appreciation on the display of the collection of antiques used by our forefathers which brings back childhood memories.

more News & Announcements

This website was launched in 2006 during the silver jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka-Goa Province of the Discalced Carmelite Order.

The ancient Carmelites founded in the thirteenth century were reformed in the sixteenth by two great doctors of the church, Saints Teresa and John of the Cross. These spiritual geniuses, while re-enforcing the contemplative dimension of the Carmelites, inserted a decidedly apostolic thrust into their spirituality, with special emphasis on the missions.

During the seventeenth century, we find Carmelite missionaries in several pockets along the west coast of the Indian sub-continent : Surat, Diu, Goa, Verapoly. In the eighteenth, Carmelites were appointed vicars apostolic of "the Great Mogul" and Verapoly. They are invited to attend to the pastoral needs of the Catholics in Mumbai. In the nineteenth century, the sees of Mangalore and Quilon were entrusted to the sons of St. Teresa.

Finally, in the twentieth century, the Discalced Carmelites opened their doors to Indian natives, who would henceforth draw more freely from the rich spiritual treasures of Sts. Teresa, John of the Cross, and other Carmelite interreters of the Good News of Jesus.

As Indian vocations multiplied, more and more foundations were made, and grouped into "provinces". Today among more than thirty provinces world-wide, there are five Indian provinces . One of these is the Karnataka-Goa province.

The aim of this web-site is, primarily to acquaint readers with Carmelite history and tradition; to share the spiritual insights of the great Carmelite saints and also give glimpses of the life within the province to all our associates. Articles of topical interest have also been included.

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

We invite you to begin the day with poetic reflections on the day's Gospel composed by our Friar,

Rev. Fr. Paul D'Souza, OCD
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Dear Friends,
Here I send you the link to my KINDLE BOOKS LIBRARY. You are welcome download books and read them and recommend them to your friends who are interested in Carmelite Spirituality. These books are cheap and affordable and some of them can be read free of charge if you are a member in Amazon online Kindle books. These books uploaded on AMAZON kindle version can be accessed through smart phones, IPad, Computers and other electronic devices globally in all the 5 continents. This is actually the new trend in publishing books as the hard copy of the books is practically becoming obsolete especially in Europe and Americas. Hence, this is a new venture in publishing books.
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by Rev. Fr. Rudolf V. D'Souza OCD,
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HOMILIES IN ENGLISH (VIDEO):
The following homilies have been preached by Rev. Fr. Rudolf V. D'Souza OCD, Parish Priest at Guardian Angels Church, Vancouver Canada.The first three homilies are of his Lenten mission reflections in the parish.

The remaining are Sunday homilies which will be regularly uploaded. All our friends and well-wishers are most welcome to benefit from these reflections.

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REFLECTIONS IN KONKANI (Audio)

You are welcome to benefit spiritually from the reflections of our Carmelite Friar - Rev. (Dr) Rudolf V. D’Souza, OCD

Retreat preached on the theme “The Kingdom of God is at hand” at Abu Dhabi, from 26 November to 2 December, 2009.
Day 1: The Kingdom of God
Day 2: The Beatitudes
Day 3: The Seven Sacraments
Day 4: the Ten Commandments
Day 5: Holy Mother, the Church and Mother mary
Day 6A: Family
Day 6B: Love
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Retreat preached at Ruwi – Muscat (Oman) from 20 to 24 January 2008
THEME: JESUS CAME TO GIVE LIFE, LIFE IN ABUNDANCE (JOHN 10:10)
1. ABUNDANT LIFE - GOD
2. FORGIVENESS
3. LOVE
4. SUFFERINGS
5. 7 WORDS FROM THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION
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Homilies preached on various occasions from 2007-2009 at St. Joseph’s Church, Mira Road, Mumbai (now the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Bombay) when he was Parish Priest.
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