TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: After serving in the diocese of Krishnagar-West Bengal for 28 years, Fr Santosh Mondol joined the Pilar Society on May 24.
This is for the first time that a priest is joining the congregation in over five decades, as the last priests who joined the Pilar Society were Fr Jerome Caitan Souza and Fr Bessa Noronha in 1959. 15 other candidates also joined Pilar Society.
Fr Francis Carvalho, the Superior General of the Society of Pilar, accepted the first commitment of Fr Santosh Mondol along with 14 other candidates in the Pilar Society during a special ceremony in the Pilar Seminary Chapel, Pilar.
“This is called the First Commitment Day – a day of handing over oneself to God and to service in the Pilar Society. This is also called temporary commitment but it is always in view of making it definitive or final commitment,” stated Fr Carvalho.
Fr Mondol, who has a Masters in Spirituality from Bangalore, was the Chancellor of the Diocese (2005-2008). He has also been the director of the Diocesan minor seminary for nearly 15 years. He was the Parish Priest of the Cathedral Parish of Krishnagar for 6 years.
As per the requirement, Fr Mondol along with the others completed a year of novitiate at Shishyalaya in Collem.
The others who joined the Pilar Society are Darryl Noronha (Siolim), Cruzberto Colaco (Velim), Mcsteein Oliveira (Loutolim), Stefan Colaco (Navelim) and Kevin Barreto (Utorda), Sewsharan Kujur, Ramesh Kumar Xalxo and Bernard Xalxo, (all from Chhattisgarh), A Vinod Kumar and Antru Joseph (TN), Robin Jorden (Chandigarh), Godwin Miranda (Mangalore), Rajesh Lakra (Jharkhand), and Ajit Soreng (Andamans).
