Media Release
Mangaluru, May 11: Fr Brian Pereira, SJ, officially assumed office as the rector of St Aloysius Institutions, Mangaluru, after a solemn prayer held at the Jesuit Oratory of the St Aloysius Community on May 10, in the presence of fellow Jesuits.
Fr Brian took over as the 31st rector of the institution. Fr Melwyn D’Cunha, SJ the vice -rector welcomed the new rector and facilitated him handing over the baton of leadership of the 146 years old institutions in Mangaluru in a symbolic way presenting him a statue of Jesus, the Good Shepherd and the keys of tabernacle of the Jesuit oratory. Taking up the responsibility Fr Brian said, "We need to allow the legacy of the institution and empathetic leadership of Late Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto continue to grow. Real life is challenging but it is also exciting to see how God leads us. God counts on us".
The appointment comes in the wake of the untimely demise of former rector Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto, SJ, on April 10, which left the Aloysius community mourning the loss of a visionary leader. Subsequently, Fr Arturo Abascal Sosa, SJ, superior general of the Society of Jesus, appointed Fr Brian Pereira as the new Rector on April 16.
Widely respected for his dynamic leadership and deep commitment to youth formation, Fr Brian brings decades of experience in education, administration, leadership training, and social outreach.
An accomplished academic and mentor, Fr Brian holds MSc in chemistry from St Josephs College, Trichy and a master’s degree in counselling from Loyola University, Maryland, USA. He has undergone extensive training in youth formation and leadership development and is a certified NLP trainer and life skills coach. Over the years, he has trained thousands of young people across India, equipping them with leadership qualities, life skills, and value-based education.
Fr Brian has held several important positions within Jesuit institutions and organisations. He previously served as vice-president of the Bangalore Jesuit Educational Society, Rector of Jesuit communities, director of Navasadhana Jesuit Pre-Novitiate, and in-charge of Jesuit Youth Works in South Asia. He was also the founding director of the Karnataka Jesuit Youth Apostolate.
His administrative experience includes serving as rector of St Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bengaluru and later as rector of St Joseph’s Institutions, Bengaluru. Most recently, he served as director of the Human Resource Development Centre of the Karnataka Jesuit Province.
Fr Brian is especially known for his pioneering work in youth empowerment initiatives. He is the visionary behind the IGNITORS Integral Formation Programme, which has positively impacted more than two lakh youth across the country by promoting leadership, character formation, and personal growth. He also played a significant role in MAGIS initiatives aimed at the integral development of Catholic youth in Karnataka.
In addition, Fr Brian has been actively involved in social outreach programmes, including ‘Bembala – St Joseph’s Outreach Programme’, which focuses on community service and support for underprivileged communities. His contributions to programmes such as Magis South Asia and Samagra reflect his commitment to holistic wellness and integral human development.
Known for his compassionate leadership, discipline, and vision for inclusive and value-based education, Fr Brian Pereira is expected to further strengthen the Jesuit mission of academic excellence and social responsibility at St Aloysius Institutions.
Members of the St Aloysius community, including faculty, students, alumni, and well-wishers, have warmly welcomed his appointment and expressed confidence in his leadership for the continued growth and progress of the institution.