Udupi Diocese News

Media Release

Udupi, Jul 22 : Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza, presently Secretary of Catholic Education Society Udupi (CESU) celebrated the Ruby Jubilee of his ordination with a solemn thanksgiving mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, Shankerpura (Pangla) here followed by reception in the parish hall on Tuesday, 18 July 2017.

Fifty priests from the Dioceses of Udupi and Mangalore were present for the solemn thanksgiving mass along with those who were ordained with him by late Bishop Basil D’Souza on 5 May 1977 at Milagres Church, Mangalore - Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Fr. Fred Mascarenhas - presently parish priest of Padukone Church and Fr. Fredrick D’Souza-presently parish priest of Manipal Church.

Fr. Baptist Menezes delivered a meaningful homily. The liturgy of the thanksgiving mass was animated by the family members of Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza.

Soon after the mass, felicitation function was held in the Parish Hall. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo presided over the felicitation function. Other dignitaries on the dais included: Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza, Fr. Fred Mascarenhas, Fr. Fredrick D’Souza, Fr. Valerian Mendonca, parish Priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi and Chancellor of Udupi Diocese, Fr. Ferdinand Gonslaves-parish priest of St. John the Evangelist Church, Shankerpura, Fr. Peteer Noronha, Fr. Antony Serrao-parish priest of Bendore, Mangalore, Fr. Rajesh D’Souza (SVD), nephew of Fr. Lawrence and Mr. Baptist D’Souza, eldest brother of Fr. Lawrence.

Following the welcome dance by Chrishel and Gishel , Roshan D’Souza, one of the nephews of Fr. Lawrence D’Souza welcomed the guests and the gathering. This was followed by cutting of the jubilee cake.

Raising the toast, Fr. Antony Serrao briefly narrated the family background and achievements of Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza as a student, seminarian, priest and administrator.

Fr. Ferdinand Gonslaves, parish priest of Shankerpura in his felicitation message highlighted the fine qualities of Fr. Lawrence. Along with Fr. Vincent Coelho, Principal of St. Johns PU College, Fr. Royson Fernandes, assistant parish priest, Vice President and Secretary of Parish pastoral Council he felicitated Fr. Lawrence on behalf of the parishioners of Shankerpura.

On behalf of the family, Baptist D’Souza, the eldest brother of Fr. Lawrence appreciated the achievements of his younger brother as a priest and wished him well in his future endeavours. On behalf of the family all three brothers-Baptist, Joseph and Lazarus felicitated Fr. Lawrence.

Fr. Lawrence honoured those who were ordained with him - Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Fr. Fred Mascarenhas and Fr. Fredrick D’Souza.

In reply to the felicitation function organized by his family members, Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza said that he was an instrument in the hands of God to do His work. He thanked all those who made the celebration of the Ruby Jubilee of his ordination possible.

In his presidential message, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo lauded the fine qualities of Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza. On behalf of the Diocese of udupi, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo felicitated Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza.

Fr. Rajesh D’Souza (SVD) proposed the vote of thanks. The entire function was efficiently anchored by Fr. Royson Fernandes.

Rev. Dr. Lawrence DSouza: A Great Administrator and Educationist

Lawrence was born on 28 November 1948 as the third among four sons of late Casmir D’Souza and late Regina Mendonca at Pernal in Udupi District. He joined St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore in 1966.

He secured BSc degree from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore and secured second rank in the subject of Chemistry in the entire Mysore University. After Philosophy studies in the seminary, Br. Lawrence went to Rome for Theological studies and acquired Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) from Urban University, Rome in 1977 which he passed with ‘Summa cum Laude’. After completing the training and learning to be a priest, Deacon Lawrence was ordained a priest on 5 May 1977 at Milagres Church, Mangalore.

Even after being ordained a priest and serving in parishes, Fr. Lawrence did not give up his hunger for higher learning and did Post Graduation in Philosophy from the Karnataka University, Dharvad and Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from St. Aloysius College. He also obtained LL.B. degree through SDM Law College, Mangalore with Gold Medal.

After his ordination, Fr. Lawrence D’Souza was appointed as the Assistant Priest at Kulshekar Church, Mangalore. Thereafter, he served as Assistant Director of Fr. Muller’s Hospital, Mangalore for five years. Next, he took charge as the Secretary of the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) where he served for seven years. With his intelligence, hard work and dedication, Fr. Lawrence made Catholic schools more active and responsible for good education.

In 1980, when he was the Assistant Director of Fr. Muller’s Hospital. Fr. Lawrence arranged for the visit of Mother Teresa on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration of the hospital. In 1986, he was embraced by Pope John Paul II at the Bajpe Airport, Mangalore in recognition of his work as Secretary of the Organizing Committee that arranged the Papal visit to Mangalore. He cherishes this memory till date as the ‘embrace of a saint’.

Fr. Lawrence D’Souza did M.A. in Religious Studies in Fordham University, New Yok (USA) in 1994. His highest academic achievement was when he was awarded Ph. D. degree in Administration and Supervision from Fordham University, New York (USA) in 1998.

Along with his studies at the Fordham University, Fr. Lawrence served as the Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church, New York from 1992 to 1998.

After completing his Ph.D. studies, Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza served as Administrator of Fr. Muller’s Medical College of Nursing for 8 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for many developments of the college. He went back to serve as the parish priest of Kulshekar Church for two years. During this period, in 2007, the All India Bishop’s Conference, after evaluation of the capabilities and service of Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza appointed him as the Director of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore where he served till 2014.

After completing his term as the Administrator of St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza came back to Udupi Diocese in 2014 and was appointed as the Secretary of the Catholic Education Society of Udupi (CESU), the post which he still holds.