Get ready, Mysore! Bishop Francis Serrao, recently appointed to lead the Diocese, will officially take his seat during a special installation ceremony on October 7th. This momentous occasion will unfold at the beautiful St. Joseph’s Cathedral, famously known as St. Philomena’s Church, located on Ashoka Road.
The ceremony, set for 4:30 p.m., will be presided over by the esteemed Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore. Following the installation, a felicitation program will honor Bishop Serrao, led by Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Leopoldo Girelli. This event also serves as a heartfelt send-off for Bernard Moras, who has diligently served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Mysore Diocese since January 2023.
The exciting news was shared during a press conference held on Saturday at the Bishop House in Bannimantap, on Nelson Mandela Road. Apostolic Administrator Moras, alongside key representatives from the Diocese of Mysore, delivered the announcement.
According to a press statement, Bishop Francis Serrao, currently serving as the Bishop of Shimoga, comes from a deeply spiritual family. Born on August 15, 1959, in Moodbidri, he is the youngest of eleven children, with five brothers who are priests and a sister who is a nun.
His journey in faith began on April 30, 1992, when he was ordained a priest. Bishop Serrao dedicated himself to social work among Dalit and tribal communities in Anekal (Bangalore Archdiocese) and Mundgod (Karwar Diocese). He also shared his wisdom by teaching theology to Jesuit seminarians and later held the prestigious position of Rector at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore. His appointment as Bishop of Shimoga came on March 19, 2014.
The statement hailed the upcoming ceremony as a ‘historic moment’ and the beginning of a ‘new chapter’ for the Catholic community’s journey of faith and service in the region. It highlighted the rich history of the Mysore Mission, which dates back to 1658 with the arrival of Italian Jesuit missionary Fr. Leonardo Cinnami. King Narasaraja Wodeyar I warmly welcomed him, granting permission to preach the Gospel and establish a Christian settlement.
This foundational act by the King paved the way for the enduring Catholic presence in Mysore. The early years saw the growth of small, devoted communities focused on faith, pastoral support, and dedicated service to those in need.
The statement further elaborated on the Diocese’s evolution: in 1850, the Vicariate of Mysore was formed, which then became the Diocese of Mysore in 1886, with its central seat in Bangalore, following the establishment of the Catholic hierarchy in India. A significant change occurred in 1940 when the Diocese of Mysore was formally established by separating it from Bangalore, making its current form truly established in 1941. As the mission flourished, it branched out, giving rise to several other dioceses such as Bangalore, Ootacamund, Chikmagalur, and Shimoga, all continuing Mysore’s original missionary spirit.
Today, the Diocese of Mysore encompasses four civil districts: Mysuru, Mandya, Kodagu, and Chamarajanagar. It proudly serves a Catholic population exceeding 1.2 lakh, spread across 90 parishes, supported by 128 priests, and numerous dedicated religious men and women.