Msgr. Frederick V. Pereira is no more

Msgr. Frederick V. Pereira is no more

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 27: Msgr. Frederick V. Pereira, the former vicar general of the diocese of Mangalore, breathed his last at 11:30 a.m. on Feb 27, Sunday.

Msgr Fred was taken to Fr. Muller’s Hospital at 11:15 a.m. because he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. He was anointed by Msgr Denis Prabhu, after which he breathed his last at 11:30 a.m.

Born on Sept 12, 1936 in Valencia to Mr. Aloysius Pereira, he spent 49 years of his life of 74 years as a priest. Immediately after his ordination on Dec 4, 1961, he was appointed as assistant parish priest of Milagres Church. He then served as the secretary of the bishop of Mangalore for a few years before leaving to Rome to pursue his doctorate in moral theology from the Urbanian University of Rome. After his studies, he returned as the chancellor and secretary of the bishop of Mangalore.

He later served as the parish priest of Rosario Cathedral for 8 years, the parish priest of Madanthyar Parish for 9 years, and the parish priest of Urwa for 4 years. He was also the second diocesan rector of St. Joseph’s Inter Diocesan Seminary in Jeppu for 5 years. He then served as the vicar general of Mangalore Diocese from 2003 to 2008. After serving for one year as the director of St. Anthony’s Charitable Institutions in Jeppu, he became the campus minister for a year in St. Joseph’s Engineering College, Vamanjoor. He was on medical leave from 2010 and was staying at St. Anthony’s Senior Priests’ Home in Jeppu.

When he was the parish priest of Madanthyar and the correspondent of the Madanthyar Educational Institutions, he played an active role in the successful completion of the Sacred Heart College project in Madanthyar. Along with Fr. Robert Crasta, the principal of Sacred Heart College, he launched an “earn while you learn” project for needy students, enabling them to work for part of the day to finance their studies. The parish provided jobs and supported the students financially.

The year 1989 was declared to be the year of austerity in Madanthyar to pay off the heavy debts incurred to construct the college building. All celebrations were cancelled and boxes were kept in each class room and in each home in the parish to collect money. Several fund-raising programmes were also organized that year. Although there were proposals to close the college, Fr. Frederick’s relentless service rejuvenated the college and raised it to great heights. This college celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1992. Affectionately known as the “Builder of Modern Madanthyar,” the people of the parish have named a hall built by Fr. Robert Crasta as Fr. Fred V. Pereira Auditorium.