Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jul 9: Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General of the Diocese of Udupi, has been given the additional responsibility of serving as the Rector of Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur.

The official announcement follows the passing of Fr Valerian Mendonca, the former rector of Milagres Cathedral, who died on July 3, 2024. His funeral was conducted at Milagres Cathedral on July 8, 2024.

Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves was appointed Vicar General by Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop of the Diocese of Udupi, on April 1, 2023.

Born on September 29, 1955, Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves is the son of John Gonsalves and Angeline Rebello of Kundapur. He was ordained as a priest in 1985. He holds a Bachelor of Theology, a Bachelor of Science, an MA in English, and a BEd. He has served as an assistant priest at Kulshekar and as assistant director at St Antony Ashram, Jeppu. As a parish priest, he has served in Kokkada, Byndoor, Ujire, Kemmannu, and Pangala parishes. Additionally, he has served as principal of colleges in Puttur, Ujire, Lourdes Central School Bejai, Milagres PU College Kallianpur, and in Bidar. He is also the spiritual director of Catholic Sabha and the diocesan director of the Laity Commission of the Udupi Diocese.