Finally, Udupi Diocese Comes into Existence
With Inputs from Fr Francis Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jul 16 : The long-awaited dream of the people of Udupi district has finally come true with the announcement of a separate Udupi diocese.
As of now, parishes belonging to Udupi Episcopal were part of the Mangalore diocese which consisted of around 160 parishes in Mangalore, Udupi and Kasargod districts.
This official announcement was made simultaneously at noon, Rome time (3:30pm IST) by Vatican office, Nunciature at New Delhi, Milagres-Kallianpur church, Udupi by the Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza and Bishop’s House in Mangalore, by Vicar General, Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu and Chancellor Fr Henry Sequeira on Monday, July 16. This announcement was done today being the day of feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The new diocese of Udupi includes the three civil taluks of Udupi, Karkala and Kundapura and comes under the metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangalore [as a suffragan diocese].
It will have a total land area of 3.500.75 sq km leaving the Diocese of Mangalore with 5.924.26 sq km of its original 9.425.01 sq km area.
The new diocese of Udupi counts 1,06,149 Catholics, 46 parishes, 58 diocesan priests, 28 religious priests, and 225 religious.
The Church of Our Lady of Miracles (Kallianpur) has been designated as the Cathedral Church of the new Diocese.
Msgr Denis Prabhu making announcement at the Bishop's House
Born on November 12, 1949 in Agrar near Bantwal, Bishop Lobo was ordained priest on May 5, 1977. He was appointed Bishop of Shimoga on December 3, 1999 and later consecrated as the Bishop on March 20, 2000.
The new Diocese of Udupi comprises of parishes belonging to Karkal, Shirva, Udupi, Kallianpur and Kundapur deaneries. According to the canonist and Chancellor Fr Henry Sequeira the new Bishop will have to take charge of the new Diocese within next two months.
According to Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore there is huge potential and leadership in diocese of Udupi towards the pastoral and social growth. As per Vicar General Msgr Denis Prabhu, the Diocese of Mangalore has a history of more than 5 centuries. The faith of the people has grown ever since 1515. It has served in the initial years the faithful of the Dioceses of Calicut, Kannur, Gulbarga and six Syro Malabar- Malankara Dioceses before they were established. According to him if the Diocese of Udupi would have been established together with Karwar it would have far excelled by now than all other Dioceses of Karnataka. More over the faith was handed over to us from Goa through Gangolli, Kundapur etc parishes which belong to Udupi.
According to Fr Pius D’Souza, the Episcopal Vicar for the religious of Mangalore Diocese there is a scope for fresh and inspired beginning in the new Diocese. The Diocese is already set with strong faith. Being so the formation of faith is easy and more fruitful.
Fr Peter Cyprian D’Souza, a Capuchin priest, feels that there is lot of love, concern, life and spirit of unity in the parishes of Udupi. Being so it will have express growth. Sr Cecilia Mendonca, the president of Catholic Religious of India (CRI) says that this is a great gift to the Diocese of Mangalore on the occasion of its Post Centenary Silver Jubilee.
According to Fr Herald D’Souza a diocesan priest, together with the announcement of the Diocese of Udupi, the Mangalore Diocese should have been erected as an Arch-Diocese comprising of all the Konkani Dioceses of Karnataka, because the Konkani culture, lifestyle and pattern of functioning is quite unique and different from others.
According to Jerald D’Costa, the secretary of the Mangalore Diocesan Parishad, this is big news for the Christians of Mangalore as well as Udupi. The new Diocese means scope for new development, new openings and new leadership.