James deSouza
Encyclopedia
James “Jimmy” deSouza was born on December 11, 1925, in Karachi, Pakistan. He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi. He received his religious training at the Papal Seminary, Kandy
, Sri Lanka
, which entered in 1944 and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi on 24 August 1951.
Fr. Jimmy taught for a while in St Paul's English High School
, and then in St. Anthony’s School. Later he was appointed Principal of St. John Vianney’s School and held this post for many years.
One of his many appointments was as pastor to the small Bengali
-speaking community in Karachi from 1963–1973. He was also involved with their repatriation to Bangladesh
in 1973, working with the ICRC
and UNHCR. He also taught at St Patrick's High School, where he recruited students to read to the blind at the Ida Rieu School
.
He was appointed Rector of the St. Pius X Minor Seminary
in Karachi in 1974. Earlier he had been the first Chaplain of the Monastery of the Angels
. When he became the Rector of the Seminary he used to send his Seminarians to help the sisters whenever they had some difficult work like cleaning of the Retreat House, a special planting project in the garden, or other heavy jobs. The sisters in turn supplied them with home – made jam, bakery goods, and fruits and vegetables from their garden.
He was St. Patrick’s Cathedral
's 40th parish priest from 1995 to 2000. One of his major achievements was in renovating the cathedral building during 1998-1999 with funds from parishioners, former parishioners and well-wishers in Karachi and abroad. The Cathedral was damaged when a bomb set off by suspected fanatics went off three days before Christmas in 1998.
In 2001 he celebrated the Golden Jubilee
of his priesthood.
He was parish priest of St. Lawrence’s Church, Karachi
in 2006-2007.
Fr. Jimmy celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination on August 24, 2011 with Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Mass was concelebrated by the Archbishop and 34 of the diocesan priests and followed by a Reception for Fr. Jimmy.
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, which entered in 1944 and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi on 24 August 1951.
Fr. Jimmy taught for a while in St Paul's English High School
St Paul's English High School
St Paul's English High School is a a private boys' high school in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, operated by the Roman Catholic Church. Fr Anthony Martis was the principal, Angelo Borges the senior vice principal, and Leonard Dias the vice principal.-History:...
, and then in St. Anthony’s School. Later he was appointed Principal of St. John Vianney’s School and held this post for many years.
One of his many appointments was as pastor to the small Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
-speaking community in Karachi from 1963–1973. He was also involved with their repatriation to Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1973, working with the ICRC
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
and UNHCR. He also taught at St Patrick's High School, where he recruited students to read to the blind at the Ida Rieu School
Ida Rieu School
The Ida Rieu School for blind, deaf, dumb and children with other disabilities was founded in 1923 in Karachi, Pakistan.Ida Rieu not only has a school for people with disabilities, it has a hostel, a college and an old persons’ home....
.
He was appointed Rector of the St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary in the Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan. It had 25 seminarians in January 2010. Father Benjamin Shehzad is the seminary’s rector....
in Karachi in 1974. Earlier he had been the first Chaplain of the Monastery of the Angels
Monastery of the Angels
The Monastery of the Angels is the cloistered convent of a Roman Catholic religious order for women in Karachi, Pakistan. The community is made up of nine Dominican sisters. They dedicate their lives to constant prayer with one of them always present in the chapel...
. When he became the Rector of the Seminary he used to send his Seminarians to help the sisters whenever they had some difficult work like cleaning of the Retreat House, a special planting project in the garden, or other heavy jobs. The sisters in turn supplied them with home – made jam, bakery goods, and fruits and vegetables from their garden.
He was St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, is situated on Shahrah-e-Iraq, formerly known as Clarke Street, located near the Empress Market in Karachi, Pakistan....
's 40th parish priest from 1995 to 2000. One of his major achievements was in renovating the cathedral building during 1998-1999 with funds from parishioners, former parishioners and well-wishers in Karachi and abroad. The Cathedral was damaged when a bomb set off by suspected fanatics went off three days before Christmas in 1998.
In 2001 he celebrated the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
of his priesthood.
He was parish priest of St. Lawrence’s Church, Karachi
St. Lawrence’s Church, Karachi
St. Lawrence’s Church, Karachi is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi. It became a parish in 1912.The Church was constructed with elements of Mughal architecture in it....
in 2006-2007.
Fr. Jimmy celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination on August 24, 2011 with Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Mass was concelebrated by the Archbishop and 34 of the diocesan priests and followed by a Reception for Fr. Jimmy.