Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Aug 23: Former vicar general of Udupi diocese Msgr Baptist Menezes passed away on Wednesday August 23. He was 75.
Fr Baptist Menezes is a native of Our Lady of Health Church at Shirva, son of the late Louis Menezes and the late Mary Magdelene Menezes. He was born on July 28, 1948 and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Mangalore on October 25, 1974. He has a doctorate in moral theology from the Lateran University in Rome.
After being an assistant parish priest at the Most Holy Redeemer Church at Agrar and assistant director at St Antony’s Charitable Institutions at Jeppu, Mangaluru, he was deputed for higher studies in moral theology to Rome in 1977 and on completion of his doctoral studies in 1982, he joined the staff of St Peter’s Pntifical Seminary at Bengaluru, which he served till 1994.
Thereafter, he was appointed administrator of St Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary at Jeppu, Mangaluru in 1995 and director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions in 1997, the post he held till 2007. He was appointed the episcopal vicar of the diocese of Udupi by the bishop of Mangalore on July 6, 2007, an office he shouldered till Udupi was canonically erected into a new diocese on October 15, 2012.
He was appointed as the first Vicar General of the new Diocese of Udupi on 14 December 2012. He faithfully carried out this role for ten years until he offered his resignation due to ill health on 31 March 2023. From day one, Msgr. Baptist Menezes served as the Vicar General with utmost zeal, commitment, and dedication, wholeheartedly devoting himself to the service of the Diocese. A Vicar General is required to work ad nutum episcopi within a diocese. Accordingly, by remaining true to the canonical role and responsibilities of the Vicar General, he served as a humble and faithful collaborator of the Bishop for the good of the diocese for the past ten and a half years. There was never an occasion for clashes or conflicts of ideas, as there was a harmonious blending of the two minds in unison. He was always available to the Bishop, priests, and the faithful of the Diocese.
His tireless service and cooperation included the preparation and efficient implementation of the Pastoral Plan Mission 2025 for the Diocese, resource mobilization for diocesan projects, guidance for the parish pastoral councils and parish finance councils in the Diocese, courageous, creative, and innovative suggestions during meetings of various participatory structures in the Diocese, and a listening and understanding ear for all who came to his office. He also edited the Diocesan monthly news bulletin for four years, served as the defender of the Bond and the Promoter of Justice in the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal, meticulously recorded the history of the diocese, and attended to Diocesan Curial work. These examples only scratch the surface of the immense services he rendered to the diocese and the Church. Despite facing health-related difficulties, he remained a man of deep faith and convictions, never refusing to fulfill his duty whenever called upon. He consistently displayed obedience to his superiors throughout his tenure. Thus, even in the face of his health challenges, he expended himself fully in the service of the Diocese, much like a burning candle. His contributions as the first Vicar General of Udupi Diocese will forever be cherished in the history of the Diocese.
A person of profound faith, he was a dedicated devotee of St. Antony of Padua. The Divine Mercy chaplet held a special place in his heart, and he would recite it daily. He had a strong love for the poor and personally assisted many individuals.
Funeral details
The funeral mass will take place on August 27, Sunday at 3:30 pm at Our Lady of Health Church in Shirva. The mortal remains will be available for public viewing at the same venue from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
Watch funeral live: