After serving for six years at Valencia Church, it was indeed an emotional moment for the parishioners to bid farewell to their beloved priest, Fr Roque DSa. At 3:00 p.m., a small prayer service was held in the church, after which he proceeded to Gantalkatte. He officially took charge of the parish from the outgoing parish priest, Fr Ronald DSouza.

Fr Roque’s installation ceremony was led by Fr Onil DSouza, Parish Priest of Corpus Christi Church, Moodbidri and Dean of the Moodbidri Deanery.

Fr Roque was accompanied by Valencia’s new parish priest, Fr Cyprian Pinto; Assistant Priest Fr Pradeep Rodrigues; Parish Council Vice President Ronald Rodrigues; Finance Committee member Louis Pinto and around 250 parishioners from Valencia.

By Gordon DAlmeida

Pics by Andrick Jaden