Fr Valerian Mendonca : The First Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi
Fr Valerian Mendonca :  The First Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi
Certainly a proud moment for the people of Barkur, as the Parish Priest of St. Peter's Church Barkur, Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca took charge as the first Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi at 12.55 pm today,  Friday, the 14th of December.
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Certainly a proud moment for the people of Barkur, as the Parish Priest of St. Peter's Church Barkur, Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca took charge as the first Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi at 12.55 pm today, Friday, the 14th of December.

In a brief and impressive liturgical ceremony, firstly the Bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo on Friday December 14 announced the appointment of Fr Baptist Menezes, the former Episcopal Vicar, as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Udupi. The service was conducted by the Bishop at Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi in the presence of a small gathering.

Then Bishop Gerald I Lobo announced the appointment of Fr J B Sequeira, OFM Cap, who is the Superior of Trinity Vihar at Perampally, as the Episcopal Vicar for Religious, and of Fr Valerian Mendonca, parish priest, St Peter Church, Barkur, as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi.

Bishop Gerald I Lobo handed over appoinment orders to Fr J B Sequeira OFM Cap, and Fr Valerian Mendonca respectively after they also made their Profession of Faith and took oath of fidelity and secrecy.

Fr Valerian Mendonca: A Brief Profile

Fr Valerian Mendonca, is the 7th of the 8 children of Gabriel and Seraphine Mendonca, Jalamale, Pilar, Shirva. Sr Rose Agnes,AC, Principal of St Cecily’s PU College, Udupi, is his younger sister.

He had his Primary and High School education (1965) at his native parish, Shirva. He secured the First Rank in English in the Mysore University in BSc (1969) at St Aloysius College, Mangalore. He obtained his B Th (Bachelor in Theology) from Urban University, Rome,(1976) through St Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore. He secured his Diploma in Communications with specialization in Radio and Audio-Visual Aids (1979) from Amruthavani Communications Centre, Secunderabad. He had his Master’s Degree in English from Mysore University (1983).

He served as Secretary of Canara Communications Centre, Mangalore, for 1 year (1980). He was the Vice Principal and Principal-in-charge of Milagres PU College, Mangalore (1983-1988). He was Lecturer, Vice Principal and Principal of Milagres College, Kallianpur (1988-2003). He was Principal of Pompei College, Aikala, Kinnigoli, from 2003 to 2007. He served Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education ® and Sandesha College of Fine Arts as the Director and Principal till from 17.3.2008 to 29.5.2012. He also served as the Regional Secretary for Social Communications for KRCBC (Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council) during this period.

His Priestly service includes Assistant Director of St Anthony’s Poor Homes (1 month), Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Family Church, Omzoor (Mermajal) (2 years), Assistant Parish Priest of Milagres Church, Mangalore (4 years), and Milagres Church, Kallianpur (3+10 years), Ecclesiastical Administrator at Tallur, Kundapur (10 months), and Chaplain of Ozanam Home for the Aged, Kallianpur (5 years).

As a poet and lyricist, he has written poetry in English, Konkani and Kannada; as a composer and director of music, in association with Fr Clement Mascarenhas, he has produced 32 audio-albums of devotional songs in Konkani, Kannada and Hindi. As an auditioned artiste of All India Radio, he has presented ‘Vandana’ and ‘Chintana’ programs regularly on AIR. He is scheduled to present a Radio Talk on Christmas in English on December 23 at 9.15 pm on Akashvani, Mangalore. He is a member of the Local Audition Committee of All India Radio, Mangalore. Apart from singing and playing musical instruments like the accordion, keyboard and guitar, and conducting chuch choirs (among them the Diocesan Choirs of Mangalore and Udupi Dioceses), photography has been one of his interests.

As an educationist and administrator, he has served as the Principal of Milagres P U College, Mangalore, Milagres College, Kallianpur, Pompei College, Aikala, and Sandesha College of Fine Arts, Mangalore. He has also served as a member of the Academic Council, Senate and Syndicate of the Mangalore University.

Since June 3, 2012 he has been serving St Peter’s Church, Barkur, as Parish Priest. He took charge as the first Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi at 12.55 pm on Friday December 14. He will continue to serve the parish of Barkur as the Parish Priest along with his new responsibility of the Chancellor of the Diocese of Udupi.

Honours awarded:

‘Bhakti Sangeetha Sagara’ (Public Of Kinnigoli)

‘Rabindranath Tagore Of Mangalore (Daijiworld.Com)

‘Star Of Kinnigoli’ (Kinnigoli.Com)

‘Jewel Of Shirva’ (Uswas, Shirvites’ Association, UAE)