The Decennial Episcopal Consecration celebration of Bishop Francis Serrao SJ was held at Shivamogga
Shivamogga, May 14, 2024: Bishop Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga, celebrated his Decennial Episcopal Consecration at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga.
The clergy, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of Shimoga organised the Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist on the 14th evening at 6 p.m. Bishop Francis Serrao SJ concelebrated the Holy Eucharist with Bishop Duming Dias of the Diocese of Karwar, Archbishop Emeritus Leo Cornelio of the Archdiocese of Bhopal, and Clergy and Religious Priests of the Diocese of Shimoga.
Bishop Duming Dias preached the homily based on the pastoral motto of Bishop Francis, “Service of Faith, Fullness of Life.”.
At the end of the Holy Eucharist, Fr Roman Pinto led the felicitation program. Fr Veeresh Moras read the felicitation honours for the Bishop. Monsignor Felix Joseph Noronha, Vicar General, Rev. Fr Stephen Maxi Albuquerque, Chancellor, Rev. Fr Biju Thomas, Judicial Vicar, Rev. Fr Ronald D’Cunha, Procurator, Fr Veeresh Moras, PRO, Rev. Fr Roshan Pinto, Director Sannidhi, Rev. Fr Stany D’Souza, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga, and PPC secretary Mr. Arogyaswamy felicitated Bishop Francis Serrao SJ on behalf of the Diocese.
Bishop Duming Dias, Bishop of Karwar, and Archbishop Emeritus Leo Cornelio felicitated Bishop Francis Serrao SJ.
Bishop Francis Serrao SJ, in his speech, thanked God for his merciful love and guidance. He also thanked clergy, religious, and faithful for their prayers and support in his pastoral ministry. On behalf of the diocese, Rev. Fr Stany D’Souza thanked everyone.
Bishop Francis Serrao was born on August 15, 1959, in Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. Bishop Francis is the youngest of the 11 children; 6 of them are priests—2 diocesans, 2 SVDs, and two Jesuits—and a sister is a religious nun.
He was ordained a priest on April 30, 1992, and made his final vows in the Society of Jesus on May 1, 1999. He has had a wide range of experience in the social apostolate, working among dalits and tribals in Anekal (Bangalore Archdiocese) and Mundgod (Karwar Diocese) mission stations. He has been teaching theology to the Jesuit students of theology, preparing themselves for priesthood. He was the Rector of St. Aloysius College, the 136-year-old institution in Mangalore. It imparts education to over eleven thousand students, from primary to doctoral studies.
On March 19, 2014, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Francis Serrao sj as the Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga. He was appointed as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga and was ordained as Bishop on May 7, 2014, by Archbishop Most Rev. Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio of India, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shimoga. “Service of Faith, Fullness of Life” is the pastoral motto of the bishop.
