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03 February 2023, Friday, marked a record in the history of the Diocese of Udupi. In a meaningful ceremony held at Anugraha Pastoral Center, Kakkunje, Santhekatte, Udupi the work of changing the management of educational institutions was successfully completed on this day.

A meaningful ‘Handing over Ceremony’ was organized after the prolonged and laborious process of taking over the educational institutions from the management of Catholic Board of Education [CBE], Mangalore to Catholic Educational Society of Udupi Diocese [CESU], Udupi.  Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the President of Catholic Educational Society of Udupi Diocese and the Bishop of Udupi Diocese and Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, the president of Catholic Board of Education, Mangalore and the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese exchanged symbolically the files of educational institutions. To express the happy moment, both the Presidents exchanged flower bouquets and rejoiced over the successful completion of the work. 

V. Rev. Fr Vincent Robert Crasta, the secretary, CESU, gave a preamble to the process of work done. Through the Power point presentation, he explained to the house how this lengthy legal and official process got over by constant efforts. The details of the orders from Govt. of Karnataka and respective departments were presented before the house. He also presented the list of educational institutions which are at present legally and officially under the management of Catholic Educational Society of Udupi Diocese, [CESU], Udupi. As of now 37 institutions are under the care of CESU.

V. Rev. Fr Antony M Shera, the secretary, CBE, Mangalore was honored for his indomitable support during the long process of changing the management. In his address he told that the process began in the year 2015 but due to some technical problems the process got delayed. He appreciated the efforts put in by the present secretary of CESU by regularly visiting the concerned departments to achieve this goal.  

After receiving the honor, the president of CBE Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha hailed the present CESU secretary as ‘Thrivikrama’ for having never turned back till the work was done.

The bishop of Udupi, Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, recalled the challenges, struggles and obstacles faced during the entire process. He appreciated the hard work put in by former secretaries of CESU, Fr Clement Mascarenhas and Fr Lawrence C. D’Souza. He appreciated the commendable work done by Fr Vincent Crasta, the present secretary. Fr Vincent Crasta was honoured. 

The programme began with the prayer led by Rev. Fr Cyril Lobo, the Director of Divya Jyothi, Udupi Diocese.  V. Rev. Fr Herald Pereira extended warm welcome.  The programme was compered by Dr Vincent Alva, the principal of Milagres College. The concerned Joint secretaries, heads of the institutions, members of Governing Board of CESU and special invitees graced the occasion. V. Rev. Fr Charles Menezes, the Joint Secretary of St Mary’s Educational Institutions, Udupi prayed the grace before meals.