Early Life and Present address Gregory D’ Souza was born on November 17, 1940 to late Mr. Marian D’Souza and late Mrs. Paschalya D’ Souza at Kullar (Kuthethoor Post, Mangalore Taluk, D. Kannada, Karnataka 574149, India) as their ninth and the last child. Other siblings are: Teresa, Francis, Lawrence, Sabina, Agnes, Gabriel, Lilly and Alice. He was baptized in the parish church of Pezar in Kalavar on Nov. 23, 1940 and was named Gregory D’ Souza. His present contact address is: St. Joseph's Monastery, Carmelhill, Bikarnakatte, Kulshekar Post, Mangalore, 575 005, Karnataka ,India. Mob: 9448155321, Tel: 91-0824-2221144; 91-0824-2211124, e-mail: ocdgds@gmail.com |
After his Elementary and Higher Elementary
education at St.
Joseph’s Higher Elementary
School attached to
Pezar Church, Gregory pursued his High school studies
till 11th Standard at
Padua High
School, Mangalore, staying as a boarder, first, at
the boarding house attached to the school, and later, at
St.
Joseph’s
Monastery belonging to the Discalced Carmelite Order. After
graduating from High School, he joined the same Order on
June 8, 1959. M. A. in Philosophy: After duly completing Post Graduate studies at
the State University of Karnataka in Dharwad, he was awarded M.A in
Philosophy in 1974. In the same year, in order to achieve an all-round education, he obtained a Diploma in Counseling from Christian Counseling Centre, Vellore in Tamil Nadu. This centre provided him with not only the skills in counseling but also facilities to practise counseling in Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore. Study and Research in
Theology: In preparation for the Catholic priesthood, Gregory
undertook theological studies obtaining a degree of B. D.
(Bachelor of Divinity) from
Master’s Degree in
Theology: His profound interest in Mysticism took him to
Doctorate in
Theology: Desiring to compliment philosophical research in
Mysticism with theological understanding and insight, Gregory
researched on the theme, “ The New Man in
In the meantime he took
also some additional courses at Gregorianum,
Language Studies: Fr. D’ Souza is conversant in English, Konkani, Kannada and Tulu
languages. He has workable knowledge of Latin,
Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi. During vacations, while pursuing his
studies abroad, he studied several other languages
and secured diplomas in Italian at
International Institute of Languages in
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After his studies in Europe, Fr. Gregory
had an audience with the Pope St. John Paul II and was given the
privilege to concelebrate Holy Eucharist with the Pope in his
private chapel at the Vatican .
Though much of the time of Fr. D’ Souza was spent with students, in studies and research, he made it a point to spend sometime working with the Brothers of Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. He visited them at least once a week and did not hesitate to offer them a helping hand whenever he could. He had the privilege of meeting with and talking to Mother St.Teresa. Back to India: After completing his doctorate in Theology Fr. D’
Souza thought of doing post-doctoral research in
the University of Louvain and applied for a
scholarship. Though the answer was positive, Fr.
D' Souza thought that this could be done later. He was offered a
teaching position in
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Fr. D’ Souza began his teaching career in the Post-Graduate Department of Studies and Research in Christianity in the University of Mysore in July 1984 as a lecturer. He was then selected as a Reader and after a few years, was promoted as a Professor. He continued teaching in the university till he got retired from service on 31, March 2001. Fr. D’ Souza has been also a Visiting Professor of philosophy and mysticism in different seminaries like St. Peter’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Bangalore, St. Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Mangalore, Sacred Heart College of Philosophy, Alwaye, Pushpashrama, a College of Philosophy in Mysore and in several institutes of Spirituality, like Adyatma Vidya Pitha in Bangalore, Jyothir Bhavan at Cochin, Mater Dei in Goa, Dhyanavana in Mysore, Dhyana Sadhana: Indian Institute of Spirituality in Bangalore and at Rhyshivana from 1974 to-date. He has also traveled abroad extensively to more than forty countries lecturing on mysticism in universities, faculties, seminaries and institutes.
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Besides teaching in the university of Mysore and other institutions, Fr. D’ Souza has authored ten books and a number of research papers and scientific articles, which were published in international journals. Besides, he has written also a number of popular articles. Moreover, he has been conducting about six seminars mainly on Mysticism every year. He has also organized International seminars in the University of Mysore, like the one on “Interculturality of Philosophy and Religion” in 1994. |
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Books Authored by Professor D Souza
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Chair Person: Professor D’ Souza was the Chairperson of the Board of Studies,
Board of Examinations, and Board of Selection and of the Department of
Post Graduate Studies and Research in Christianity in the University of
Mysore for more 12 years.
Member of Academic
Council: Professor D’ Souza was a member of the Academic Council in the
Research Guide: Fr. D’ Souza has successfully guided 60 dissertations of Master’s Degree in Christianity and five Ph. D. dissertations.
After joining the Carmelite Order on June 8, 1959, Gregory was sent to Ernakulam in Kerala for humanistic studies, especially of Latin. After two years of intense study of Latin, he was sent to Mount Carmel Monastery at Podanur in Tamil Nadu for his novitiate formation. In 1962 he took his first religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience consecrating himself to God. On March 19, 1966 Gregory took his Solemn Vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and consecrated himself to the service of God and of the society definitively for the rest of his life.He offered himself also to work in the missions whenever called for. |
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Director, St. Joseph’s Vocation Home: Attached to St. Joseph’s Monastery in Mangalore, was St. Joseph’s Vocation Home where candidates aspiring to become Carmelites or missionaries in mission dioceses of North India were kept and educated. Fr. D’ Souza was appointed as its Director in December 1970. He expressed his enthusiasm for priesthood and for missions by encouraging young men to dedicate themselves to this way of life. Actually he sent a number of candidates to different missions. Superior, St. Joseph’s Monastery: Fr. D’ Souza was the first local Carmelite to be appointed as superior of the monastery of St. Joseph for a three-year term starting in April 1972. In order to give more conveniences to the members of his community, he made several developments in the building and property, particularly by starting a dairy farm and the plantation especially of coconut trees. Prior, Carmelite Monastery: In the election chapter of April 1975 Fr. D’ Souza was elected Prior of the Carmelite Monastery at Margao, Goa. Besides renovating the monastery and specially the library, he undertook the more difficult task of renovating the church and improving the light and ventilation system. Provincial Councillor: The election chapter of the Manjummel Province in 1978 elected Fr. Gregory as a Councillor to the provincial and entrusted him with the ministry of Vocation Director, coordinating promotion of vocations in the province consisting of the regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Bombay and Tamil Nadu. Fr. D’ Souza encouraged the youth to dedicate themselves to the service of the poor and underprivileged, especially in the missions of the Province and of North India. Most of those candidates are now zealous missionaries bringing home the gospel of love to those seeking the way of salvation. Delegate Provincial: In 1979 Fr. Gregory was appointed Delegate Provincial for the Karnataka-Goa- Bombay region. Desiring to pursue his studies in Counseling he had applied for Doctoral Programme in Counseling at Indiana University in the USA. He was even offered an Assistantship in the university. Now Gregory was in a dilemma about which course to follow and he decided to serve as Delegate Provincial. Provincial: In the provincial chapter of 1990, Fr. D’ Souza was elected Provincial of the Karnataka-Goa Province. As provincial he traveled a lot and also organized a new mission in Tanzania, Africa. He had to balance colossal responsibilities of many equally important areas, specially administrative, academic and pastoral service. Founder-Director of Dhyanavana: Dhyanavana is an International Institute of Spirituality in Mysore founded by Fr. Gregory D’ Souza. As the director of this institute from 1994 to 2002 Fr. D’ Souza promoted spiritual and moral self-renewal, inculturation and inter-religious dialogue. During these years, a good number of people especially religious and priests have undergone self- renewal programme at this centre. Novice Master: Disciples of Divine Saviour is a new religious congregation of Brothers in Mysore. They did not have a novice master. The Bishop of Mysore and the Provincial of Gregory requested him to help them as their novice master. Though Fr. D’ Souza was the director of Dhyanavana, he nonetheless, obliged them and fulfilled both the duties. Rector, Infant Jesus Shrine: On March 31, 2001, Fr. D’ Souza got retired from university service, though he still continues to lecture in many places in India and abroad and to guide Ph.D. research scholars. In the provincial chapter of April 2002, he was elected Rector of the Shrine of the Infant Jesus at Carmelhill, Mangalore. This shrine is attached to St. Joseph’s Monastery where he had been already a superior in the early seventies, which by now had been transformed as a residence for Theology students of the Karnataka-Goa province. Thousands of pilgrims, from all over India and specially from Karnataka, irrespective of their caste or creed, come and pray especially on Thursdays when religious service is organized a number of times in different languages. Rector, Pushpashrama, College of Philosophy and Religion: Fr. D'Souza was Rector of Pushpashrama from the year 2008 to 2010. Apart from streamlining accademic curricula of Philosophical studies he promoted also pastoral care of the people at the Shrine of Infant Jesus attached to the college. Moreover he undertook the construction of a pilgrim center and completed the first floor. He opened the college for the student seminarians from different dioceses and religious congregations especially in the mission. He got built a heavy vehicular- bridge over a cannal to facilitate the students to go to the playground. Since there was no water he got done a borewell with plenty of water. Moreover he got affiliated philosophical curricula to IGNOU, New Delhi. |
Founder
Catholic Youth Association: To promote youth welfare and to inculcate in them the values of life especially moral and ethical Fr. D’ Souza founded a Catholic Youth Association (CYA) Madgaon, Goa. He got them actively involved in divine worship and instilled in them love for the poor and the marginalized. RYSHIVANA – Towards a Holistic Approach to Life: In India, which is a multi-religious society and the largest democracy in the world, communal out bursts with destruction and deaths at regular intervals, are worse than floods and draught. Such a situation forces a person to live constantly in insecurity, suspicion and hatred. It is in this context that Fr. D’ Souza launched into a major international project in Mangalore, called RYSHIVANA, which is an Acronym for Religion, Yoga, Spirituality, Health, and Institute. |
In his capacity as Provincial, Fr. D’ Souza traveled thrice to South East Africa and organized a new mission among the poor in Tanzania. Today the missionaries there render different kinds of service such as, health care, education and above all, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Now Fr. D' Souza is the Secretary for the Mission (Zaelator Missionum). In this capacity he has travelled there a number of times, encouraging and supporting the missionaries in every way. Presently he is involved in completing the work of their Major seminary and an Institute of Spirituality.
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Recognition Taking note of the life of Fr. D’ Souza and the service rendered by him to the society, the editorial board of Marquis Who’s who 21st Century (121 Chanlon Road, P.O, New Providence, NJ, USA), has published a resume of his bio-data. |