The First Bishop of the Diocese of Karwar, Monsignor William Leonard D'Mello was born on March 24, 1931, at Cascia, which was then a part of the Rosario Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Mangalore, the third of six children born to Joseph and Santana D'Mello.
After his studies at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, he joined the Minor Seminary at Bangalore to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Bangalore. He did his philosophical and theological studies St. Peter's Major Seminary, imbibing the missionary spirit and zeal from the Foreign Mission Society of Paris Fathers, who were running the Seminary.
After he completing his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on April 6, 1957, by the then Archbishop of Bangalore, Thomas Pothakamury. Fr. D'Mello's first appointment was that of assistant to Msgr. William Texeira, the vicar general who was also the parish priest of St. Joseph's Church, Bangalore. Both the Archbishop and the vicar had tremendous influence on the young priest and played an important role in giving a definite shape to his character. Within a period of six months Msgr. Texeira passed away and the heavy responsibility of running the big parish fell on this young assistant. But he fulfilled his duties very well to the satisfaction of his bishop and to that of the people. The very next year he was appointed assistant at St. Patrick's church, the prestigious parish in the diocese, under late Fr. Leo Vanpeen, the parish priest who was known for strict discipline, punctuality, order and neatness. In 1962, he was appointed parish priest in Doresanipalya where he came in contact with abject poverty among his parishioners.
Undeterred, he went about helping the people not only spiritually but also materially. Very soon he returned back to St. Patrick's Church as parish priest, and in addition to being the parish priest he was made the vicar general by Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy at a very young age in 1966. In 1972, when Lourdusamy was promoted as the joint secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Msgr. William D'Mello was unanimously elected as the vicar capitular. This is an ample proof of the fact that his superiors held him in high regard for his qualities of mind and heart. And so, as soon as Archbishop Arokiasamy took charge of the diocese, he appointed him as his vicar general and with a view to put his abilities, qualities and experience to the best use for the benefit of the diocese, brought him to St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Fraser Town, which is a 15 minute drive to the Archbishop's House.
On January 24, 1976, at 44 years of age, D'Mello was elected Bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Karwar by Pope Paul VI, but the news was delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances and hence his episcopal consecration took place only on April 29, 1977. Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy served as consecrator, assisted by Archbishop Packiam Arokiaswamy and Bishop Ignatius P. Lobo.
With his rich pastoral experience and insights and being filled with the spirit of Vatican II renewal, D'Mello began in all earnest the building of the Church in Karwar which was very much backward spiritually and economically. True to his motto 'Duc in Altum' he launched out into the deep in search of the lost and visited every nook and corner of the Diocese even across the rivers and the sea, though traveling in a boat was a nightmarish experience for him. Realizing the need for more priests he began encouraging vocations to priesthood from within and outside the Diocese and being convinced of the need of religious to take care of the welfare and education of women and children and specially family apostolate, he went about knocking at the door of the religious congregations pleading and begging for more Sisters. As a result, there are at present more than a hundred priests and two hundred and above women religious working in the diocese.
Bishop D'Mello was always available to anyone who sought his help but at the same time equally at ease in the company of the elite. He succeeded in persuading the rich in sharing out their riches with the poor and he himself directly and through the Karwar Diocesan Development Council, Karwar Diocese Education Society and the Bala Pragathi Kendra Services, has helped innumerable children for their education and health care, carried out relief works during floods and famine, took up building of houses for the shelterless and self-help programmes.
One of his outstanding achievements in the diocese was the promotion of the family apostolate. His vision of 'loving, serving, praying and witnessing family' which is in keeping with the Church's teaching on the family as a domestic Church, was given a concrete shape by the family commission under his able guidance and encouragement. Its activities and programmes have been highly appreciated by the other dioceses in the region.
Finally his cross, his prolonged illness which he has borne patiently and always with a smile, instead of being a block to his mission as a pastor, has been his greatest asset for it is this cross that has brought down innumerable blessings on his works and undertakings and consequently on the diocese. Having zealously shepherded the new diocese for nearly 30 years, Bishop William D'Mello resigned on attaining superannuation.
In retirement, he lived at the 'Sandhya Vandan', Senior Clergy Home built by him at Shirwad, in the compound adjoining 'Puneeth Sadan', the diocesan headquarters. On March 24, 2010, Bishop Derek Fernandes, the priests together with his family members and friends, celebrated his 80th birthday in a simple yet joyful manner. Subsequently, his health was deteriorating and for a couple of times he was admitted in Fr. Muller's Hospital in Mangalore for observation and treatment. When the doctors advised that there was nothing more that could be done as his age was against him, and it would be better for him to be in his own residence, Sr. Annie of Maria Magnoflora Hospital, assisted by the other nurses, was taking care of him under the supervision of his personal physician. However, a few days short of his death, he was again shifted to the hospital in Mangalore on the advice of his personal physician as his health condition was causing concern. Almost unconscious, he was kept in a specially prepared room, so that his friends and relatives could come and see him.
He peacefully breathed his last at Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore at 11.05 am., on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, aged 80. Monsignor Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, Sr. Rosa, who had looked after his health for the past many years and Sr. Annie, who was looking after him since more than year, together with a few priests and others were at his side during his last moments.
His body was shifted from Mangalore to Sandhya Vandan, Shirwad, Karwar, on Wednesday, at about 1.00 am., and after being clad in priestly robes, it was placed in a refrigerated glass case and was kept in the Holy Cross Church Hall at Shirwad for public homage. Bishop Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, celebrated Mass together with a few priests at 11.00 am., on Wednesday which was attended by the students of Catholic schools in Karwar, together with their teachers. Thus there was continuous presence of the faithful till Thursday morning. The students of the Holy Cross Orientation Centre kept the whole night vigil with prayers and singing.
On Thursday at 9.30 am., the body was removed from the glass case and placed in a coffin and was taken in an open truck to Karwar, accompanied by the motorcade – two-wheelers in front and the four-wheelers behind the truck on which the coffin was placed for public view en route. There was a small prayer service at the St. Michael Convent School ground, after which the body was taken in procession to the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Kajubag, at about 11 am. There the members of public were given opportunity to pay their respects until 2.30 pm. Thousands of people from all over the diocese including the local leaders and government dignitaries took part in the same.
The funeral Mass began at 3.00 pm. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore was the main celebrant together with the Bishop of Karwar, Derek Fernandes, and several other prelates. A large number of Religious Sisters, family members, relatives and friends of late Bishop D'Mello, and about 5000 lay faithful were present.
After final commendation and farewell, the mortal remains of Bishop D'Mello were laid to rest in the specially built grave in the Cathedral Church of the Assumption in front of the altar.
After his studies at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, he joined the Minor Seminary at Bangalore to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Bangalore. He did his philosophical and theological studies St. Peter's Major Seminary, imbibing the missionary spirit and zeal from the Foreign Mission Society of Paris Fathers, who were running the Seminary.
After he completing his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on April 6, 1957, by the then Archbishop of Bangalore, Thomas Pothakamury. Fr. D'Mello's first appointment was that of assistant to Msgr. William Texeira, the vicar general who was also the parish priest of St. Joseph's Church, Bangalore. Both the Archbishop and the vicar had tremendous influence on the young priest and played an important role in giving a definite shape to his character. Within a period of six months Msgr. Texeira passed away and the heavy responsibility of running the big parish fell on this young assistant. But he fulfilled his duties very well to the satisfaction of his bishop and to that of the people. The very next year he was appointed assistant at St. Patrick's church, the prestigious parish in the diocese, under late Fr. Leo Vanpeen, the parish priest who was known for strict discipline, punctuality, order and neatness. In 1962, he was appointed parish priest in Doresanipalya where he came in contact with abject poverty among his parishioners.
Undeterred, he went about helping the people not only spiritually but also materially. Very soon he returned back to St. Patrick's Church as parish priest, and in addition to being the parish priest he was made the vicar general by Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy at a very young age in 1966. In 1972, when Lourdusamy was promoted as the joint secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Msgr. William D'Mello was unanimously elected as the vicar capitular. This is an ample proof of the fact that his superiors held him in high regard for his qualities of mind and heart. And so, as soon as Archbishop Arokiasamy took charge of the diocese, he appointed him as his vicar general and with a view to put his abilities, qualities and experience to the best use for the benefit of the diocese, brought him to St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Fraser Town, which is a 15 minute drive to the Archbishop's House.
On January 24, 1976, at 44 years of age, D'Mello was elected Bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Karwar by Pope Paul VI, but the news was delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances and hence his episcopal consecration took place only on April 29, 1977. Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy served as consecrator, assisted by Archbishop Packiam Arokiaswamy and Bishop Ignatius P. Lobo.
With his rich pastoral experience and insights and being filled with the spirit of Vatican II renewal, D'Mello began in all earnest the building of the Church in Karwar which was very much backward spiritually and economically. True to his motto 'Duc in Altum' he launched out into the deep in search of the lost and visited every nook and corner of the Diocese even across the rivers and the sea, though traveling in a boat was a nightmarish experience for him. Realizing the need for more priests he began encouraging vocations to priesthood from within and outside the Diocese and being convinced of the need of religious to take care of the welfare and education of women and children and specially family apostolate, he went about knocking at the door of the religious congregations pleading and begging for more Sisters. As a result, there are at present more than a hundred priests and two hundred and above women religious working in the diocese.
Bishop D'Mello was always available to anyone who sought his help but at the same time equally at ease in the company of the elite. He succeeded in persuading the rich in sharing out their riches with the poor and he himself directly and through the Karwar Diocesan Development Council, Karwar Diocese Education Society and the Bala Pragathi Kendra Services, has helped innumerable children for their education and health care, carried out relief works during floods and famine, took up building of houses for the shelterless and self-help programmes.
One of his outstanding achievements in the diocese was the promotion of the family apostolate. His vision of 'loving, serving, praying and witnessing family' which is in keeping with the Church's teaching on the family as a domestic Church, was given a concrete shape by the family commission under his able guidance and encouragement. Its activities and programmes have been highly appreciated by the other dioceses in the region.
Finally his cross, his prolonged illness which he has borne patiently and always with a smile, instead of being a block to his mission as a pastor, has been his greatest asset for it is this cross that has brought down innumerable blessings on his works and undertakings and consequently on the diocese. Having zealously shepherded the new diocese for nearly 30 years, Bishop William D'Mello resigned on attaining superannuation.
In retirement, he lived at the 'Sandhya Vandan', Senior Clergy Home built by him at Shirwad, in the compound adjoining 'Puneeth Sadan', the diocesan headquarters. On March 24, 2010, Bishop Derek Fernandes, the priests together with his family members and friends, celebrated his 80th birthday in a simple yet joyful manner. Subsequently, his health was deteriorating and for a couple of times he was admitted in Fr. Muller's Hospital in Mangalore for observation and treatment. When the doctors advised that there was nothing more that could be done as his age was against him, and it would be better for him to be in his own residence, Sr. Annie of Maria Magnoflora Hospital, assisted by the other nurses, was taking care of him under the supervision of his personal physician. However, a few days short of his death, he was again shifted to the hospital in Mangalore on the advice of his personal physician as his health condition was causing concern. Almost unconscious, he was kept in a specially prepared room, so that his friends and relatives could come and see him.
He peacefully breathed his last at Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore at 11.05 am., on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, aged 80. Monsignor Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, Sr. Rosa, who had looked after his health for the past many years and Sr. Annie, who was looking after him since more than year, together with a few priests and others were at his side during his last moments.
His body was shifted from Mangalore to Sandhya Vandan, Shirwad, Karwar, on Wednesday, at about 1.00 am., and after being clad in priestly robes, it was placed in a refrigerated glass case and was kept in the Holy Cross Church Hall at Shirwad for public homage. Bishop Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, celebrated Mass together with a few priests at 11.00 am., on Wednesday which was attended by the students of Catholic schools in Karwar, together with their teachers. Thus there was continuous presence of the faithful till Thursday morning. The students of the Holy Cross Orientation Centre kept the whole night vigil with prayers and singing.
On Thursday at 9.30 am., the body was removed from the glass case and placed in a coffin and was taken in an open truck to Karwar, accompanied by the motorcade – two-wheelers in front and the four-wheelers behind the truck on which the coffin was placed for public view en route. There was a small prayer service at the St. Michael Convent School ground, after which the body was taken in procession to the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Kajubag, at about 11 am. There the members of public were given opportunity to pay their respects until 2.30 pm. Thousands of people from all over the diocese including the local leaders and government dignitaries took part in the same.
The funeral Mass began at 3.00 pm. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore was the main celebrant together with the Bishop of Karwar, Derek Fernandes, and several other prelates. A large number of Religious Sisters, family members, relatives and friends of late Bishop D'Mello, and about 5000 lay faithful were present.
After final commendation and farewell, the mortal remains of Bishop D'Mello were laid to rest in the specially built grave in the Cathedral Church of the Assumption in front of the altar.
The First Bishop of the Diocese of Karwar, Monsignor William Leonard D'Mello was born on March 24, 1931, at Cascia, which was then a part of the Rosario Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Mangalore, the third of six children born to Joseph and Santana D'Mello.
After his studies at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, he joined the Minor Seminary at Bangalore to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Bangalore. He did his philosophical and theological studies St. Peter's Major Seminary, imbibing the missionary spirit and zeal from the Foreign Mission Society of Paris Fathers, who were running the Seminary.
After he completing his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on April 6, 1957, by the then Archbishop of Bangalore, Thomas Pothakamury. Fr. D'Mello's first appointment was that of assistant to Msgr. William Texeira, the vicar general who was also the parish priest of St. Joseph's Church, Bangalore. Both the Archbishop and the vicar had tremendous influence on the young priest and played an important role in giving a definite shape to his character. Within a period of six months Msgr. Texeira passed away and the heavy responsibility of running the big parish fell on this young assistant. But he fulfilled his duties very well to the satisfaction of his bishop and to that of the people. The very next year he was appointed assistant at St. Patrick's church, the prestigious parish in the diocese, under late Fr. Leo Vanpeen, the parish priest who was known for strict discipline, punctuality, order and neatness. In 1962, he was appointed parish priest in Doresanipalya where he came in contact with abject poverty among his parishioners.
Undeterred, he went about helping the people not only spiritually but also materially. Very soon he returned back to St. Patrick's Church as parish priest, and in addition to being the parish priest he was made the vicar general by Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy at a very young age in 1966. In 1972, when Lourdusamy was promoted as the joint secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Msgr. William D'Mello was unanimously elected as the vicar capitular. This is an ample proof of the fact that his superiors held him in high regard for his qualities of mind and heart. And so, as soon as Archbishop Arokiasamy took charge of the diocese, he appointed him as his vicar general and with a view to put his abilities, qualities and experience to the best use for the benefit of the diocese, brought him to St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Fraser Town, which is a 15 minute drive to the Archbishop's House.
On January 24, 1976, at 44 years of age, D'Mello was elected Bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Karwar by Pope Paul VI, but the news was delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances and hence his episcopal consecration took place only on April 29, 1977. Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy served as consecrator, assisted by Archbishop Packiam Arokiaswamy and Bishop Ignatius P. Lobo.
With his rich pastoral experience and insights and being filled with the spirit of Vatican II renewal, D'Mello began in all earnest the building of the Church in Karwar which was very much backward spiritually and economically. True to his motto 'Duc in Altum' he launched out into the deep in search of the lost and visited every nook and corner of the Diocese even across the rivers and the sea, though traveling in a boat was a nightmarish experience for him. Realizing the need for more priests he began encouraging vocations to priesthood from within and outside the Diocese and being convinced of the need of religious to take care of the welfare and education of women and children and specially family apostolate, he went about knocking at the door of the religious congregations pleading and begging for more Sisters. As a result, there are at present more than a hundred priests and two hundred and above women religious working in the diocese.
Bishop D'Mello was always available to anyone who sought his help but at the same time equally at ease in the company of the elite. He succeeded in persuading the rich in sharing out their riches with the poor and he himself directly and through the Karwar Diocesan Development Council, Karwar Diocese Education Society and the Bala Pragathi Kendra Services, has helped innumerable children for their education and health care, carried out relief works during floods and famine, took up building of houses for the shelterless and self-help programmes.
One of his outstanding achievements in the diocese was the promotion of the family apostolate. His vision of 'loving, serving, praying and witnessing family' which is in keeping with the Church's teaching on the family as a domestic Church, was given a concrete shape by the family commission under his able guidance and encouragement. Its activities and programmes have been highly appreciated by the other dioceses in the region.
Finally his cross, his prolonged illness which he has borne patiently and always with a smile, instead of being a block to his mission as a pastor, has been his greatest asset for it is this cross that has brought down innumerable blessings on his works and undertakings and consequently on the diocese. Having zealously shepherded the new diocese for nearly 30 years, Bishop William D'Mello resigned on attaining superannuation.
In retirement, he lived at the 'Sandhya Vandan', Senior Clergy Home built by him at Shirwad, in the compound adjoining 'Puneeth Sadan', the diocesan headquarters. On March 24, 2010, Bishop Derek Fernandes, the priests together with his family members and friends, celebrated his 80th birthday in a simple yet joyful manner. Subsequently, his health was deteriorating and for a couple of times he was admitted in Fr. Muller's Hospital in Mangalore for observation and treatment. When the doctors advised that there was nothing more that could be done as his age was against him, and it would be better for him to be in his own residence, Sr. Annie of Maria Magnoflora Hospital, assisted by the other nurses, was taking care of him under the supervision of his personal physician. However, a few days short of his death, he was again shifted to the hospital in Mangalore on the advice of his personal physician as his health condition was causing concern. Almost unconscious, he was kept in a specially prepared room, so that his friends and relatives could come and see him.
He peacefully breathed his last at Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore at 11.05 am., on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, aged 80. Monsignor Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, Sr. Rosa, who had looked after his health for the past many years and Sr. Annie, who was looking after him since more than year, together with a few priests and others were at his side during his last moments.
His body was shifted from Mangalore to Sandhya Vandan, Shirwad, Karwar, on Wednesday, at about 1.00 am., and after being clad in priestly robes, it was placed in a refrigerated glass case and was kept in the Holy Cross Church Hall at Shirwad for public homage. Bishop Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, celebrated Mass together with a few priests at 11.00 am., on Wednesday which was attended by the students of Catholic schools in Karwar, together with their teachers. Thus there was continuous presence of the faithful till Thursday morning. The students of the Holy Cross Orientation Centre kept the whole night vigil with prayers and singing.
On Thursday at 9.30 am., the body was removed from the glass case and placed in a coffin and was taken in an open truck to Karwar, accompanied by the motorcade – two-wheelers in front and the four-wheelers behind the truck on which the coffin was placed for public view en route. There was a small prayer service at the St. Michael Convent School ground, after which the body was taken in procession to the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Kajubag, at about 11 am. There the members of public were given opportunity to pay their respects until 2.30 pm. Thousands of people from all over the diocese including the local leaders and government dignitaries took part in the same.
The funeral Mass began at 3.00 pm. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore was the main celebrant together with the Bishop of Karwar, Derek Fernandes, and several other prelates. A large number of Religious Sisters, family members, relatives and friends of late Bishop D'Mello, and about 5000 lay faithful were present.
After final commendation and farewell, the mortal remains of Bishop D'Mello were laid to rest in the specially built grave in the Cathedral Church of the Assumption in front of the altar.
After his studies at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, he joined the Minor Seminary at Bangalore to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Bangalore. He did his philosophical and theological studies St. Peter's Major Seminary, imbibing the missionary spirit and zeal from the Foreign Mission Society of Paris Fathers, who were running the Seminary.
After he completing his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on April 6, 1957, by the then Archbishop of Bangalore, Thomas Pothakamury. Fr. D'Mello's first appointment was that of assistant to Msgr. William Texeira, the vicar general who was also the parish priest of St. Joseph's Church, Bangalore. Both the Archbishop and the vicar had tremendous influence on the young priest and played an important role in giving a definite shape to his character. Within a period of six months Msgr. Texeira passed away and the heavy responsibility of running the big parish fell on this young assistant. But he fulfilled his duties very well to the satisfaction of his bishop and to that of the people. The very next year he was appointed assistant at St. Patrick's church, the prestigious parish in the diocese, under late Fr. Leo Vanpeen, the parish priest who was known for strict discipline, punctuality, order and neatness. In 1962, he was appointed parish priest in Doresanipalya where he came in contact with abject poverty among his parishioners.
Undeterred, he went about helping the people not only spiritually but also materially. Very soon he returned back to St. Patrick's Church as parish priest, and in addition to being the parish priest he was made the vicar general by Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy at a very young age in 1966. In 1972, when Lourdusamy was promoted as the joint secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Msgr. William D'Mello was unanimously elected as the vicar capitular. This is an ample proof of the fact that his superiors held him in high regard for his qualities of mind and heart. And so, as soon as Archbishop Arokiasamy took charge of the diocese, he appointed him as his vicar general and with a view to put his abilities, qualities and experience to the best use for the benefit of the diocese, brought him to St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Fraser Town, which is a 15 minute drive to the Archbishop's House.
On January 24, 1976, at 44 years of age, D'Mello was elected Bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Karwar by Pope Paul VI, but the news was delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances and hence his episcopal consecration took place only on April 29, 1977. Archbishop Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy served as consecrator, assisted by Archbishop Packiam Arokiaswamy and Bishop Ignatius P. Lobo.
With his rich pastoral experience and insights and being filled with the spirit of Vatican II renewal, D'Mello began in all earnest the building of the Church in Karwar which was very much backward spiritually and economically. True to his motto 'Duc in Altum' he launched out into the deep in search of the lost and visited every nook and corner of the Diocese even across the rivers and the sea, though traveling in a boat was a nightmarish experience for him. Realizing the need for more priests he began encouraging vocations to priesthood from within and outside the Diocese and being convinced of the need of religious to take care of the welfare and education of women and children and specially family apostolate, he went about knocking at the door of the religious congregations pleading and begging for more Sisters. As a result, there are at present more than a hundred priests and two hundred and above women religious working in the diocese.
Bishop D'Mello was always available to anyone who sought his help but at the same time equally at ease in the company of the elite. He succeeded in persuading the rich in sharing out their riches with the poor and he himself directly and through the Karwar Diocesan Development Council, Karwar Diocese Education Society and the Bala Pragathi Kendra Services, has helped innumerable children for their education and health care, carried out relief works during floods and famine, took up building of houses for the shelterless and self-help programmes.
One of his outstanding achievements in the diocese was the promotion of the family apostolate. His vision of 'loving, serving, praying and witnessing family' which is in keeping with the Church's teaching on the family as a domestic Church, was given a concrete shape by the family commission under his able guidance and encouragement. Its activities and programmes have been highly appreciated by the other dioceses in the region.
Finally his cross, his prolonged illness which he has borne patiently and always with a smile, instead of being a block to his mission as a pastor, has been his greatest asset for it is this cross that has brought down innumerable blessings on his works and undertakings and consequently on the diocese. Having zealously shepherded the new diocese for nearly 30 years, Bishop William D'Mello resigned on attaining superannuation.
In retirement, he lived at the 'Sandhya Vandan', Senior Clergy Home built by him at Shirwad, in the compound adjoining 'Puneeth Sadan', the diocesan headquarters. On March 24, 2010, Bishop Derek Fernandes, the priests together with his family members and friends, celebrated his 80th birthday in a simple yet joyful manner. Subsequently, his health was deteriorating and for a couple of times he was admitted in Fr. Muller's Hospital in Mangalore for observation and treatment. When the doctors advised that there was nothing more that could be done as his age was against him, and it would be better for him to be in his own residence, Sr. Annie of Maria Magnoflora Hospital, assisted by the other nurses, was taking care of him under the supervision of his personal physician. However, a few days short of his death, he was again shifted to the hospital in Mangalore on the advice of his personal physician as his health condition was causing concern. Almost unconscious, he was kept in a specially prepared room, so that his friends and relatives could come and see him.
He peacefully breathed his last at Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore at 11.05 am., on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, aged 80. Monsignor Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, Sr. Rosa, who had looked after his health for the past many years and Sr. Annie, who was looking after him since more than year, together with a few priests and others were at his side during his last moments.
His body was shifted from Mangalore to Sandhya Vandan, Shirwad, Karwar, on Wednesday, at about 1.00 am., and after being clad in priestly robes, it was placed in a refrigerated glass case and was kept in the Holy Cross Church Hall at Shirwad for public homage. Bishop Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, celebrated Mass together with a few priests at 11.00 am., on Wednesday which was attended by the students of Catholic schools in Karwar, together with their teachers. Thus there was continuous presence of the faithful till Thursday morning. The students of the Holy Cross Orientation Centre kept the whole night vigil with prayers and singing.
On Thursday at 9.30 am., the body was removed from the glass case and placed in a coffin and was taken in an open truck to Karwar, accompanied by the motorcade – two-wheelers in front and the four-wheelers behind the truck on which the coffin was placed for public view en route. There was a small prayer service at the St. Michael Convent School ground, after which the body was taken in procession to the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Kajubag, at about 11 am. There the members of public were given opportunity to pay their respects until 2.30 pm. Thousands of people from all over the diocese including the local leaders and government dignitaries took part in the same.
The funeral Mass began at 3.00 pm. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore was the main celebrant together with the Bishop of Karwar, Derek Fernandes, and several other prelates. A large number of Religious Sisters, family members, relatives and friends of late Bishop D'Mello, and about 5000 lay faithful were present.
After final commendation and farewell, the mortal remains of Bishop D'Mello were laid to rest in the specially built grave in the Cathedral Church of the Assumption in front of the altar.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
