Media Release
Udupi, Apr 1: Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the bishop of Udupi has appointed Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves as the new vicar general of the diocese of Udupi. Fr Ferdinand is currently the parish priest of Pangala/Shankerpura parish.
In a religious ceremony that took place at Bishop’s House on Saturday, April 1, Fr Ferdinand took charge as the vicar general of the diocese of Udupi. Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo conducted the prayer service and presided over the oath taking ceremony. Dr Roshan D’Souza, the chancellor of Udupi diocese, Fr Charles Menezes, the parish priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, Fr Stephen D’Souza, and Fr Royson Fernandes, editor of Uzvaad Fortnightly were present.
Born on September 29, 1955, Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves is the son of John Gonsalves and Angeline Rebello of Kundapur. In the year 1985, he was ordained as a priest. He has done his bachelor of theology, bachelor of science, MA in English, and BEd studies. He has served as an assistant priest at Kulshekar, assistant director at St Antony Ashram, Jeppu. As parish priest he has rendered his services at Kokkada, Byndoor, Ujire, Kemmannu and Pangala parishes. He has also rendered his service as the principal of the college in Puttur, Ujire, Lourdes Central School Bejai, Milagres PU College Kallianpur and in Bidar. He is also the spiritual director of Catholic Sabha and diocesan director of Laity Commission of Udupi diocese.
Udupi diocese was erected on July 16, 2012. Since its inception, for the last 10 years, Fr Baptist Menezes had served as the vicar general of the diocese of Udupi.
Watch Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves interview on 'Hello Father':