Though the ordination ceremony came under Covid19 restrictions and keeping in place the SOP`s, it was well attended by 21 priests, women religious, parents, close family and lay faithful. Fr Willis Pinto, the first Salesian priest from Holy Cross Parish, Manki, was inspired by his uncle, Fr Balthazar Pinto OFM, and his aunt Sr Juvan Pinto, a Franciscan nun and other priests and nuns from the parish. The eldest of the two sons of John and Estella Pinto, Willis took the decisive step to become a priest upon completion of his graduation studies. Fr Maxim D`Souza, SDB led him to the Salesian congregation, and it was in 2005 that Willis began his journey in the Salesian congregation at Sirsi. A man of few words, Fr Willis has a way with the young and has shown a lot of promise in Salesian Youth Ministry. He has decided to shape his priestly life on the motto, Through Him, With Him and In Him, desiring to be a shepherd of the young after the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Provincial, Salesian Province of St Joseph Vaz, Panjim, Fr Felix Fernandes, presented the candidate, Dn. Willis Pinto to the Bishop to be ordained a priest of God during the Mass. The ordaining Bishop, Most Reverend Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Belgaum Diocese and Administrator of Karwar Diocese, in his homily reminded Willis that the exalted vocation to the priesthood meant dying to oneself and being born in Christ. A religious priest undergoes death and is born anew on three occasions, at baptism, during religious profession and when he is ordained a priest said, Bishop Fernandes. Speaking on the occasion of his felicitation at his home, Fr Willis Pinto, expressed deep gratitude to God for the gift of the priesthood. He thanked all those who played different roles on his vocation journey, his parents, family, friends, congregation, formators, companions and everyone else. Fr Bernardino Almeida SDB, who was his first Rector, raised the toast and had many words of praise for Fr Willis Pinto. Provincial Councillors and Salesians from the Karnataka Salesian Communities represented the Salesian province of Panjim (INP) in blessing and praying for Fr Willis. INP thanks God and rejoices to receive a new priest, Fr Willis Pinto.