Welcome to our Parish
at Mira Road

Being a parish priest is a privilege, but it’s primarily about serving and guiding the congregation, like a shepherd caring for their flock, while keeping our gaze on the ultimate Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. May 23, 2023, was a day of new beginnings in my life at St. Joseph Church Mira Road. During the induction of the new parish priest, I was overwhelmed with the liturgical service. The service included handing over the word of God to be proclaimed, proclamation of the faith, entrusting the keys of the Tabernacle, and the registers and leading the pastor to the different sacraments connected to the priesthood. As a priest for 18 years, it is the first time I have been chosen as the Parish Priest and that too of St. Joseph Church. I recall my baptism as a child at the ancient St. Joseph Church in Pezar which has been in existence since 1670, boasting a remarkable 353-year legacy. It is situated 20 km away from the heart of Mangalore city. As a pastor, I am called upon to embody qualities of prayerfulness, effective communication, and a pastoral approach in caring for the flock entrusted to my care. I have to walk the talk with the leaders of the different age groups. The priest team in the parish, the parish pastoral council, the finance committee, other leaders of the PCOA, the SCCs, children, youth, elders of the parish, senior citizens, the hailing and the sick of the parish. I surrender myself before the Holy Spirit to fill me with the gift of wisdom and guide me to walk in the footsteps of our Patron Saint Joseph, husband of Mary. My love for Saint Joseph rests on his profound silence and his righteous acceptance of God’s will. I share in the belief of our current Pope Francis regarding the symbolic image of Saint Joseph while he sleeps. This concept reflects the notion that even in his rest, Saint Joseph continues to watch over and care for the Church.

On the other hand, we are celebrating the ‘Monti Fest’ which is the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast also upholds the day of the family and the girl child. Keeping this in mind I visualize the beautiful call of Mary when the angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1,28). She was in fear but she believed in the messenger. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God.’ (Luke 1,30). She allowed herself to be used as an instrument of God saying “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1,38).

In our unworthiness, God makes us worthy as he made Mary to which she responded by saying “for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1,48). In her pain, God gave her strength to bear all sorts of trials to which the gospel writer says “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2, 19). She tells the disciples to listen to Jesus’ command at the wedding at Canna, saying “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2,5). In the midst of the crowd, Jesus recognizes her and appreciates her by calling her “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you”. (Luke 11, 27).

At the end from the cross. Jesus surrenders his mother to his beloved disciple and to us all saying “Woman, here is your son”, and to the disciple, “Here is your Mother”. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19, 26-27.) As we celebrate the ‘Monti Fest’, Mary reminds us about her role of being the mother of Jesus and the mother of us all. As we honour her on her birthday, let us honor every mother and sister in our family. And be like Mary, the model of fulfilling the will of God. Her initial ‘yes’ to the will of God slowly and steadily comes to the visualization at the foot of the cross and as they all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

God Bless you all.

Fr. Lawrence D’Cunha, OCD
Parish Priest