Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, May 2: Dr Leslie Clifford D’Souza, bishop of Udupi, has appointed Fr Francis Xavier Lewis as the new vicar general of the diocese of Udupi. Fr Francis Xavier Lewis is currently the parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Kalathur.

In a religious ceremony held at Bishop’s House on Saturday, May 2, Fr Francis Xavier Lewis took charge as the vicar general of the diocese of Udupi. Dr Leslie Clifford D’Souza conducted the prayer service and presided over the oath-taking ceremony. Fr Stephen D’Souza, chancellor of Udupi diocese, members of the College of Consultors, Fr Jithesh Castelino, and Marcel D’Souza, procurator, were present.

Fr Francis Xavier Lewis, a native of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Pernal, was born on October 20, 1960, to the late John Lewis and Theresa Lewis. He has two elder brothers and one younger sister. Responding to his vocation to the priesthood, he joined the seminary of the diocese of Mangalore on June 30, 1976, and was ordained a priest on April 28, 1987.

Over the past 39 years of dedicated priestly ministry, Fr Francis has rendered commendable service in various pastoral and leadership roles across the diocese. He began his ministry as a missionary in the Bidar Mission from 1987 to 1997, serving in Bidar, Bhalki, Jalasangi-Humnabad, and Basava Kalyan.

He later served as parish priest of Holy Spirit Church, Bajal, Mangaluru, from 1997 to 2004. He contributed significantly in the field of communication as director of Canara Communication Centre and Vocation Service Centre (2004-2006), director of Sandesha – Regional Communication Centre, Karnataka (2006-2008), and also as public relations officer of the diocese of Mangalore (2004-2008).

He continued his pastoral ministry as parish priest of Christ Church, Manipal, from 2008 to 2016, followed by his service at St Francis Xavier Church, Mudarangady, from 2016 to 2022. From 2022 to 2026, he served as parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, Kalathur.

He has now been appointed as the rector and parish priest of Our Lady of Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, and as the vicar forane of St Andrew Deanery, Kallianpur, with effect from May 18, 2026.