Bishop of Shivamogga Diocese Rev Fr Francis Serrao SJ Admitted to Hospital for COVID-19 Treatment

Bishop of Shivamogga Diocese Rev Fr Francis Serrao SJ Admitted to a Private Hospital in Mangaluru for COVID-19 Treatment

Mangaluru: Bishop of Shivamogga Catholic Diocese Rev Francis Serrao SJ, has been admitted to a private hospital in Mangaluru, for treatment of Coronavirus- and the faithful are requested to pray for his speedy recovery.

Hailing from Moodbidri, Bishop Francis Serrao SJ was born on August 15, 1959, and is the youngest of the 11 children, 6 of them are priests – 2 diocesans, 2 SVDs, and two Jesuits, and a sister a religious nun. He was ordained a priest on April 30, 1992, and made his final vows in the Society of Jesus on May 1, 1999. He has wide-ranging experience in the social apostolate working among Dalits and tribals in Anekal (Bangalore Archdiocese) and Mundgod (Karwar Diocese) mission stations. He has been teaching theology to the Jesuit students of theology, preparing themselves for the priesthood. He was the Rector of the St. Aloysius College, the 140-year old institution in Mangaluru which imparts education to over eleven thousand students from the primary to doctoral studies.

On March 19, 2014, the Holy Father appointed Msgr. Francis Serrao SJ as the Bishop of the Diocese of Shivamogga. He was appointed as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Shivamogga and was ordained as Bishop on 07 May 2014 by Archbishop Most Rev. Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio of India, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga. “Service of Faith Fullness of Life is the pastoral motto of the Bishop.

In his message sent through Whatsapp Rev Fr Francis Serrao SJ had stated:

Dear Reverend Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

Greetings.

This is to inform you that I have been admitted to Fr Muller’s Hospital, Mangaluru, for treatment against COVID-19, to which I have been diagnosed as positive, although I have only some mild symptoms of fever and body pain. Therefore, I will be absent from the diocese for some time, first for the duration of my hospitalization, and then, for the duration of the statutory quarantine post-discharge. During my absence, Msgr Felix Noronha, the VG, is in-charge of the ordinary administration of the Diocese. You may, of course, contact me over the phone for any major purposes.

While requesting you to pray for my full and speedy recovery, may I also exhort each and every one of you to take all the necessary precautions against the virus, such as maintaining the physical distance, wearing a mask, frequent sanitization etc.

With warm regards and in the union of prayers

+Francis Serrao SJ
Bishop of Shivamogga