News

Former Vicar General of the Diocese of Udupi, Very Rev. Msgr Baptist Menezes today breathed his last at 01:05 pm at Fr Mullers Hospital, Mangalore.

Very Rev. Msgr Baptist Menezes

Msgr Baptist Menezes, hailing from Shirva, was born on July 28, 1948 to Louis Menezes and Mary Magdaline Menezes. He did his early education at Don Bosco School, Shirva and St Mary’s High School, Shirva. Thereafter, he joined the Diocese of Mangalore to become a priest and was ordained a priest on 25 October 1974. After being an Assistant Parish Priest at the Most Holy Saviour Church at Agrar and Assistant Director at St Antony’s Charitable Institutions at Jeppu, Mangalore, he was sent for higher studies in Moral Theology to Rome in 1977. He has a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alfonsiana University, Rome. In 1982, he joined the staff of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary at Bangalore, where he served till 1994. He has also served as the Administrator and Procurator of St Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore. Thereafter in 1995, he was appointed Administrator of St Joseph’s Inter-Diocesan Seminary at Jeppu, Mangalore. In 1997 he was appointed as the Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, a post he held till 2007. He was appointed Episcopal Vicar of the District of Udupi by the Bishop of Mangalore on 6 July 2007, an office he shouldered till Udupi was canonically erected into a new Diocese on 15 October 2012.

He was appointed the first Vicar General of the new Diocese of Udupi on 14 December 2012, an office which he faithfully carried out for ten years, till he offered his resignation due to ill health on 31 March 2023. From the day one, Msgr Baptist Menezes served as the Vicar General with utmost zeal, commitment and dedication, and spent himself in the service of the Diocese. A Vicar General is called to work ad nutum episcopi in a diocese. Accordingly, being faithful to the canonical role and responsibilities of the Vicar General, he worked as a humble servant and faithful collaborator of the Bishop for the good of the diocese for the last ten and a half years. There was a never an occasion for clash or conflict of ideas as there was harmonious blending of the two minds in unison. He was always available to the Bishop, priests and the faithful of the Diocese.

His untiring service and cooperation in the preparation of the Pastoral Plan Mission 2025 for the Diocese and its efficient implementation, mobilizing resources for the diocesan projects, guiding the pastoral work of the parish pastoral councils and parish finance councils in the Diocese, courageous, creative and innovative suggestions during the meetings of various participatory structures in the Diocese, a listening and understanding ear to whoever came to his office, editing the Diocesan monthly news bulletin for four years, serving as the defender of Bond and the Promoter of Justice in the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal, meticulously recording the history of the diocese, attending to the Diocesan Curial work could be highlighted only as a tip of the iceberg of the enormous services he rendered to the diocese and the Church. Being a man of deep faith and convictions, he never refused to offer his mite whenever the call of duty came on his way. He always remained obedient to his superiors throughout his tenure. Thus, despite his health-related difficulties, like a burning candle he spent himself totally in the service of the Diocese. His services as the first Vicar General of Udupi Diocese will always be cherished in the annals of the history of the Diocese.
Being a person of deep faith he was a great devotee of St Antony of Padua. Divine Mercy chaplet was close to his heart, which he would pray everyday. Having love for the poor, he has personally helped lot of people.

As the Diocese of Udupi mourns his sad demise, we pray that his sweet soul may rest in peace.
Funeral details will be made known at the earliest.

Fr Denis D'Sa

PRO, Diocese of Udupi.

*FUNERAL DETAILS *

Very Rev. Msgr Baptist Menezes

Former Vigar General

Udupi Diocese

Born on 28-07-1948

Ordained on 25-10-1974

Died on 23-08-2023

Former Vicar General of the Diocese of Udupi Very Rev. Msgr Baptist Menezes ( 75 years) expired on 23 August 2023. Funeral Mass will be on: *27 August 2023, Sunday at 3:30 pm @ Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva. *

Mortal remains will be kept for the public viewing on the same day from 02:30 pm to 03:30 pm. 

+ Gerald Isaac Lobo
Bishop