Events
Fr Ivan Pinto celebrated his Silver Jubilee. Miyar

BELLARY, 22 Oct, 2025

Fr Ivan Pinto celebrated his Silver Jubilee. Miyar, 22 October,2025:

Fr. Ivan Pinto, celebrated his Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of his Priestly Ordination at, St Dominic Church, Miyar, Udupi the very place where he celebrated his first Mass 25 years ago. He was ordained by then Bishop Most Rev. Joseph D’Silva, Bishop of Bellary in the year 2000 for Bellary Diocese.

The Solemn Mass presided over by Fr Ivan was concelebrated by over 50 priests and Most Rev. Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary. It was well participated by many Priests, religious, lay faithful, friends of Fr Ivan from the diocese of Bellary and other places and family members of the Jubilarian.

During the Eucharist the Jubilarian committed himself more firmly at the service of the Lord’s Vineyard particularly in the Diocese of Bellary. Bishop Henry in his homily at the Eucharistic celebration said that “Jubilee is a time of great Joy to be grateful to God with an attitude of gratitude which is expressed in actions. For a priest it is expressed in way of collaboration with other fellow priests in working to build up God’s kingdom and in faith give out oneself and the Gospel to others.

Quoting Pope Francis he said “Priests are called to be shepherds laying their lives for the sheep in all humility and self-giving.

The bishop urged the religious and lay faithful “to be close to the priests with affection, respect and encouragement in their ministry of the Word of God and encouraged to pray that they may always be good shepherds closer to Jesus the Divine master.

A felicitation program followed Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration. It was unique as the event was jointly organized with Silver Jubilee of Shri Shri Swasthishri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamji, Sri Digambara Jain Mutt, Moodabidri. It is to be noted that the, Swamiji was Fr Ivan’s classmate and bench mate in his schooldays. On that occasion the Swamiji, fondly recalled that” during their school days, they reciprocally interchanged religious, cultural and social views, which resulted in respecting other religions and enabled them to live in a brotherly and harmonious relationship in later days.

The Bishop also thanked the family members for their sacrifice of their son for Diocese of Bellary. And honoured the jubilarians.

Fr Ivan is presently serving the Diocese of Bellary as the Diocesan Financial Administrator and Diocesan Director for Communio, PMO. He is also one of the Trustees of Sandesha Foundation, Mangalore.