ARTICLES

Fr. DeSouza retires from priestly ministry

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

While he was willing to continue on in full-time parish ministry at age 74, Father Carl DeSouza has retired because of the stern admonition of his physicians.

Ordained a priest for 41 years, Father DeSouza has multiple myeloma, cancer of the marrow of the bone, which was diagnosed in March 2005. He has been in remission, he says for the past 13 months.

“The doctor wanted me to retire because I need a full eight hours sleep each night,” the priest told The Catholic Virginian. “I frequently get calls in the middle of the night to go to the hospital and I’ve never said no so far.”

The priest will remain in the Farmville area because he wants to continue treatment for his illness with the same medical team who has guided him since his diagnosis. He returns every three months for tests.

But he plans to stay busy, if not in full-time ministry. Even on his vacation, which he will begin June 25, he has plans which include visiting a man in prison in Ohio.

“He’s a young man who graduated from college,” Father DeSouza said. “His family are former parishioners of mine.”

Other plans include witnessing a wedding July 7 at St. Jude’s in Franklin where he was pastor for five years.

“The bride told Father (Charles) Saglio (St. Jude pastor) that since Father Carl has retired, he has no excuse not to come,” Father DeSouza said, with a laugh.

Father DeSouza was born in Tanzania to a fourth generation family of Indian immigrants to Africa. He was educated by an order of Swiss nuns and later by the Jesuits. In 1954 he entered the Society of Jesus, later earning a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and then a master’s degree in philosophy.

He served as a priest in Tanzania for many years before coming to the United States.

“I have served all over Virginia,” he said. Among the parishes in the Richmond diocese in which he served, in addition to Franklin and Farmville, are St. John’s, Marion; St. Charles, Cape Charles; St. Ann’s, Ashland, and Sacred Heart, South Richmond.

Father DeSouza will be succeeded by Father James Glass, a Benedictine priest of Mary Mother of the Church Abbey in Richmond who is currently serving as parochial vicar of St. Bridget parish in Richmond.

back to top