By Fr Francis Rodrigues, Raknno

Udupi: Long awaited new diocese of Udupi was announced today July 16th afternoon at 3.30 p.m. simultaneously at Kallianpur-Milagres Church, our Lady of Dolours Chapel of Bishops House of Mangalore Diocese, Nunciature New Delhi and Holy See Vatican (12 noon). This announcement was done today being the day of feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Most Rev. Dr Jerald Isaac Lobo of Shimoga Diocese is appointed as the first of new diocese by Pope Benedict XVI. In Kallianpur – Milagros Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore announced the new Diocese. Vicar General Msgr Denis Prabhu and Chancellor Fr Henry Sequeira announced the same in Mangalore.

The new Diocese of Udupi is comprised of 48 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 Most Rev. 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.

According to 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, Gulbaga 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. According to Fr Peter Cyprian D’Souza a Capuchin priest there is lot of love, concern, life and spirit of unity in the parishes of Udupi. Being so it will have express growth.

According to Sr Cecilia Mendonca the president of Catholic Religious of India (CRI) 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.