Media release

Mangaluru, Aug 14: In recognition for his dedicated service to the community, Fr William Menezes has been nominated for the `Outstanding Community Leaders of Mangaluru 2018’ Award by International Institute for Public Policy (IIPP), an international organization based in Mangaluru for the cause of policy implementation for public good.

The announcement of the awards is made on the eve of Independence Day every year by Max and Jessie Rasquinha, Houston/Dallas, Texas, USA, the Founders of IIPP, who always cherish Mangaluru as their beloved `Home Sweet Home’ even after over sixty years of their leaving Mangaluru, wherever they were while pursuing their daily life.

“We have observed the performance of Fr William Menezes with an overwhelming joy for all that he has rendered at the Bishop’s House over the past ten years as a Public Relations Officer and the Estate Manager. Fr William has now been transferred as a Parish Priest of Guardian Angel Church, Angelore, Mangaluru, and we wish him well in his new position at a prestigious parish. He will be a ‘success story’ wherever he goes”, stated a press release from Max Rasquinha from the United States of America.

The "Outstanding Community Award" is planned to be presented officially during the visit of the Rasquinha family to their hometown later this year. Max and Jessie Rasquinha are keen followers of all the developments taking place in their beloved home town of Mangaluru.

Bishop of Mangaluru Dr Aloysius D'Souza, eminent Singer and composer Wilfy Rebimbus, Former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, Founder of Daijiworld Walter Nandalike, Msgr Fred Pereira, social work educationist and activist Dr Olinda Pereira, Fr Ronnie Prabhu SJ., Sachitha Nandagopal, Joe Gonzales, Sr Shruthi and James Serrao are among those who have received the `Outstanding Community Leaders’ award in the past.

Fr William Menezes

Fr William Menezes was born in the year of 1958 at Venur as the first child of Ligouri and Benedicta Menezes. He was the eldest amongst six children. After his High School at Venur, Fr William did his PUC at St. Aloysius College, and then he joined the Jeppu Seminary for priesthood , and side by side did his college studies and philosophy studies under Mysore University.

He served as an assistant parish priest in Bantwal for one year and thereafter served as a parish priest in Padukone for 7 years and Kolalgiri for 4 years. As a priest, Fr William did his MA in history for Dharwad University and also did LLB from Mangalore University.

Then he served as an administrator of Fr Muller’s Charitable Institution for 8 years, and thereafter served as a public relations officer and estate manager for ten years at the Bishops’ House in Mangaluru. After several decades of dedication through so many responsibilities, Fr William is now assigned as a parish priest of Angelore parish.

Fr William was able to establish a good rapport with the political leaders, bureaucrats, police department and also various government officials and the media personnel. He was also instrumental in organizing a media Christmas every year, and also Christmas get-together for the dignitaries of the district hosted by the Bishop of Mangaluru.

As the Estate Manager, Fr William was able to settle hundreds of property disputes. He also updated property records of the Mangaluru diocese. Under his leadership 24 flats were put up in Talapady, Maria Ashram for the poorest of the poor of the society and St Juze Vaz, a home for the retired priests of the diocese of Mangaluru which has won the prestigious award as the best building among the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru.

Through his life as a priest, Fr William has accepted life’s challenges with compassion and understanding. He placed his faith in God and accepted all the challenges that were entrusted upon him. He cherished the confidence in himself and tried his level best to satisfy all those that surrounded him in his life as a priest for 30 years at different locations, says the statement of IIPP.