Mangalore priests to leave for African mission

November 15, 2012: The Mangalore diocese in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka, has decided to take up the mission in Africa as a memorial of post-centenary silver jubilee of its inception.

The first batch of priests from Mangalore diocese left for African mission on Wednesday. Fr Alwyn D’Souza, former national Catholic youth director of India and Fr. Ronald Pinto, who was serving as the assistant pastor of Madanthyar parish, are the two priests in the batch who will serve the Same diocese in Tanzania.

“As there is scarcity of priests in the African missions the bishop of Same had invited us to his diocese,” said Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore.

He said that the apostles of Christ went to unknown people, into unknown places and even without knowing the languages of the places of their mission. It is Christ who led them and inspired them and they went with full of zeal for Christ.

The prelate also launched a www.mangaloreafricamission.org on the occasion. The website was designed to give regular information on the development in Mangalore-African missions. He also honoured the priests who would be going to Africa in May next year.