Media Release
Shivamogga, Oct 18: Bishop Duming Dias, apostolic administrator of the diocese of Shimoga, has appointed Msgr Savera Stanish D'Souza (Fr Stany D'Souza), presently the rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga, as the delegate of the Apostolic administrator for the diocese of Shimoga on October 17.
Pope Leo XIV transferred Bishop Francis Serrao SJ to the diocese of Mysore. He was installed on October 7. On the same day, the Nuncio announced the Apostolic Administrator for the diocese of Shimoga, presently bishop of the diocese of Karwar, Dr Duming Dias.
Now Bishop Duming Dias appointed Fr Stanyish Saver D'Souza as his delegate to oversee the pastoral mission of the diocese of Shimoga. On the final day of the retreat, he took the Oath of Fidelity with the profession of faith in front of the clergy of the diocese of Shimoga.
Msgr Stany D'Souza is a multi-talented priest. He is a very simple, humble, and spiritual person. He is an excellent pastor and friendly by nature. He is a man of wisdom and understanding.
He has experience serving the diocese in various capacities under the guidance of the first bishop of the diocese of Shimoga, the late Dr Ignatius Pinto (who later became the archbishop of the archdiocese of Bangalore), and Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo (the present bishop of the diocese of Udupi), also a vicar general of the diocese of Shimoga during the time of bishop Francis Serrao SJ from 2024 to 2025.
Name: Fr Stany D'Souza
Official name: Savera Stanish D'Souza
Parents: Albert D'Souza and Mary D'Almeida
Date of birth: June 17, 1958
Place of birth: Nagar Post, Hosanagar Taluk, Shivamogga district
Joined for priesthood studies: June 1, 1974, St Mary's Seminary, Mysore
Ordained priest on: April 16, 1985
Education qualification:
- Bachelor of Theology (BTh), 1977
- Bachelor of Philosophy (BPh), 1980
- Master of Arts (MA) in Kannada
- Certificate Course in Social Service, 2000
Posts held:
- Assistant priest at Sacred Heart Church, Shimoga (1985-1990)
- Director for BCL, diocese of Shimoga (1989-1994)
- Chancellor, diocese of Shimoga (1989-2000)
- Secretary, council of priests, diocese of Shimoga (1993-1995)
- Principal, Sacred Heart PU College, Shimoga (1998-2002)
- Parish priest, St Anthony's Church, Shanthi Nagar (2003-2007)
- Secretary, Mount Carmel Educational Society, Shimoga (2003-2010)
- Member, college of consultors, diocese of Shimoga (2000-2016)
- Financial administrator, diocese of Shimoga (2000-2012)
- Member, Mount Carmel Education Society, Shimoga (2003-Present)
- Parish priest, Shrine of Our Lady of Health, Harihar (2000-2016)
- Member, Shimoga Multipurpose Society, Shimoga (1989-Present)
- Member, council of priests, diocese of Shimoga (1989-Present)
- Member, Amala Matha Medical Association/Society, BDVT (1993-Present)
- Parish priest, Our Lady of Vailankani Church, OT, BDVT (2016-Present)
- Chancellor, diocese of Shimoga (2016-Present)
- Member, College of Consultors, diocese of Shimoga (2018-Present)
- Director, education commission, diocese of Shimoga (2016-Present)
Hobbies:
- Music: Composed tunes for more than 85 Kannada Christian devotional songs and composed a few national patriotic songs, prayer songs, welcome songs, as well as a few dance dramas. The devotional songs are published in cassettes/CDs/DVDs like ‘Mahima’, ‘Anugraha’, ‘Bandhavya’, ‘Mamatheya Mandara’, ‘Olavina Asare’, ‘Jagadolavina Taaye’, and ‘Manadalli Bhayavetake’.
- Written and published small religious booklets in Kannada like ‘Sanyasa Vritha Sweekara Vidhi’, ‘Bala Yesuvina Bhakthi Maale’, etc. Translated many articles from English to Kannada, which are published in various Christian periodicals.
- Preaching sermons, ie, giving religious discourses.
- Conducting orientations for teachers and students.