Udupi Diocese Prepares for Historic Episcopal Ordination of New Bishop
The Udupi Diocese is set to witness a significant religious event with the episcopal ordination and solemn installation of Msgr. Fr. Leslie Clifford D'Souza as its second bishop. The ceremony is scheduled for April 20 at 9 am at the Milagres College Grounds in Kallianpur, marking a pivotal moment in the diocese's history.
Ceremony Details and Distinguished Participants
According to Fr. Denis D'Sa, the Public Relations Officer of the Udupi Diocese, the consecration will take place during a solemn Eucharistic celebration. The main celebrant will be His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, who also serves as the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.
The co-consecrators for the event include Most Rev. Fr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore and president of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council, and Most Rev. Fr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, the apostolic administrator of the Udupi Diocese. This gathering is anticipated to attract more than 5,000 individuals, featuring prominent figures such as Most Rev. Dr. Leopoldo Girelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, along with numerous archbishops, bishops, priests, religious leaders, political dignitaries, and members of the local Catholic community.
Political and Civic Involvement
In a show of cross-community support, District Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and MLA Yashpal A. Suvarna will extend felicitations on behalf of the civic society. This installation ceremony also signifies the conclusion of Most Rev. Fr. Gerald Isaac Lobo's 13-year tenure as the Bishop of Udupi Diocese, spanning from 2012 to 2026.
Profile of the New Bishop: Msgr. Fr. Leslie Clifford D'Souza
Most Rev. Dr. Leslie C. D'Souza was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the new bishop of the Udupi Diocese on January 31. Born on August 19, 1962, in Yermal, within the Diocese of Udupi, Karnataka, he has an extensive academic and pastoral background.
- He earned a BA degree through distance education from the University of Mysore.
- He studied philosophy and theology at St. Joseph's Inter-Diocesan Seminary in Mangaluru, which is affiliated with the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.
- He further obtained a Licentiate and doctorate in moral theology from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.
Ordained as a priest on May 10, 1990, Fr. D'Souza was initially incardinated in the Diocese of Mangalore before transferring to the Diocese of Udupi. His pastoral assignments include:
- Assistant Parish Priest at Holy Rosary Church, Kundapur, Udupi (1990-1992)
- Assistant Parish Priest at Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar (1992-1995)
- Professor of moral theology at St. Joseph's Inter-Diocesan Seminary, Mangaluru (2003-2010)
- Parish Priest at St. John Evangelist Church, Pangala (2010-2017)
- Parish Priest at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Kallianpur (2017-2023)
- Parish Priest at Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva, and Dean of Shirva Deanery (since 2022)
Organizing Committee and Key Figures
The event is being coordinated by a dedicated committee, with key members present including Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Apostolic Administrator of Udupi Diocese; Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Rector of Milagres Cathedral and Convener of the Programme Organising Committee; Rev. Steven D'Souza, Chancellor of the Udupi Diocese; and Michael Rodrigues, Media Coordinator of Udupi Diocese. Their efforts ensure the smooth execution of this landmark ceremony, which underscores the diocese's growth and spiritual leadership transition.
