Mangalore: Fr Richard Coelho to Take Over as Administrator of Fr Muller Institutions

Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (CN)

Mangalore, Jul 4: Fr Richard Coelho, current parish priest of Shirva Church, has been appointed as the administrator for Fr Muller Medical College and Hospital with effect from July 25, 2010. He will succeed outgoing administrator Fr Stany Tauro, who will be taking charge of Shirva parish and institutions.

The 49-year-old Fr Coelho has been one of the popular and dynamic priests of Mangalore Diocese and has earlier served as assistant director of Fr Muller Hospital for four years during 1989-93.

Hailing from Attur, Karkala, Fr Coelho was ordained priest in 1988. Thereafter, he served in Vittal parish, Mandanthyar, Fr Muller’s, Nainad, Bajjodi, Udyavar, and Shirva.

“Though this is an unexpected call from my authority, I have to accept the new challenge”, says Fr Coelho, who just completed two years as parish priest of Shirva, Varado head and correspondent for institutions like St Mary’s Junior College, degree college, post graduation college, Don Bosco English Medium and other institutions where more than 3,000 students reside on the entire campus.

“It is a challenging job as Fr Muller’s has been one of the pioneer education centres and hospitals in the country. I am sure under the leadership of our Bishop and the directorship of Fr Patric Rodrigues, I will be able to meet the challenges”, says the humble priest who is popular among his well-wishers, parishioners, and faithful around India and abroad.

Though Fr Coelho’s stint in Shirva was short, his achievements have been noteworthy. A Shirva parishioner said, “Fr Coelho has done seven years’ development in just two years!"

Under his leadership, Shirva St Mary's PU College introduced statistics and computers as optional subjects instead of history. He introduced a fully-equipped computer lab in the PU college.

For 28 years, St Mary’s Degree College had only BA and BCom as options, but Fr Coelho introduced BBA and BBM courses in 2009, which are running to full capacity. He also introduced a fully-equipped computer lab in the college.

Post graduation courses were started in 2009 under Fr Coelho’s guidance with MSW courses being introduced and this has successfully completed two semesters.

Now, the college has received permission from the state government to begin an MCom course.