About Fr Valerian Mendonca
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The life song of Valerian Mendonca started on 9th December 1949 when he was born in Shirva parish of Mangalore Diocese. Mr. Gabriel and Mrs. Seraphine Mendonca were his proud parents. They had 8 children, four boys and four girls. Valerian was their 7th child.
Valerian Mendonca was ordained a priest for the diocese of Mangalore on 7th May 1976.
Fr Valerian held an MA in English and a Diploma in Communications (Radio & AV Aids), alongside a B Th from Urban University, Rome. He subsequently served as an assistant director at St Anthony's Ashram in Jeppu, assistant priest in Vamanjoor, and pursued studies in Secunderabad and at the Canara Communication Center in Mangaluru. He later served as director of the Kallianpur Milagres Cathedral and held various roles in Mangaluru, Tallur Church Administration, and at the Udupi Mother of Sorrows Church. At the time of death (July 3, 2024), he was serving as the main priest of the Kallianpur Milagres Cathedral.
Fr Valerian's extensive service record includes:
- 1976: Assistant Director at St Antony’s, Jeppu
- 1976-1978: Assistant parish priest at Omzoor
- 1978-1979: Studies in Secunderabad
- 1979-1980: Secretary at Canara Communication, Padua
- 1980-1983: Assistant parish priest at Kallianpur
- 1983-1985: Vice-principal at Milagres, Mangaluru
- 1985-1986: In-charge principal at Milagres, Mangaluru
- 1986-1987: Ecclesiastical administrator at Tallur
- 1987-1988: Vice-principal at Milagres, Mangaluru
- 1988-1995: Lecturer at Milagres, Kallianpur
- 1995-1997: Vice-Principal at Milagres, Kallianpur
- 1997-2003: Principal at Milagres, Kallianpur
- 2003-2007: Principal at Aikala
- 2008-2012: Director and principal at Sandesh, Mangaluru, and secretary of KRCBC
- 2012-2017: Parish priest at Barkur, chancellor of Udupi Diocese, director of Social Communication Commission, Udupi
- 2017- 2024 : Parish priest at Udupi, chancellor of Udupi Diocese, director of Social Communication Commission, Udupi
- 2020 - 2024 : Rector Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur
Fr Valerian Mendonca: A legacy of music and composition
Fr Valerian Mendonca has composed numerous songs, poems, and religious lyrics in Konkani, Kannada, English, and Hindi. He produced several audio cassettes and CDs, with his liturgical compositions gaining international recognition. Fr Valerian was also skilled in playing musical instruments such as the harmonium, electric keyboard, guitar, violin, and accordion, and he trained many others in these arts.
He composed Konkani lyrics for hymns and bhajan recordings by Dr F Charles Vas, SVD, Sangeet Abhinay Academy, Mumbai.
Fr Valerian’s first cassette was a collection of Christmas carols titled “Natalachim Gitam,” released in 1980 while he served as the secretary of the Canara Communications Centre. From 1990 onwards, Fr Valerian Mendonca and Fr Clement Mascarenhas jointly produced cassettes and CDs in various languages.
Valerian Mendonsa was also a renowned musician, with many of his devotional songs having been widely appreciated.
Konkani:
- Somyak Vandan
- Moga Ulo
- Jezu Mhojo Rai
- Movall Mog
- Shanti Sagar
- Abba Bapa
- Happy Christmas
- Noman Moriye
- Naman Zuze Vaz Bapa
- Somyachi Vodvik
- Jezu Boro Govlli
- Jivithacho Unddo (12 cassettes)
Kannada:
- Namo Parameshwara (1 cassette)
Hindi:
- Pyare Yesu
- Yesu Mera Meeth
- Jai Ho Prabhu
- Prabhu Ki Stuti
- Jeevan Ki Roti (5 cassettes)
Fr Valerian Mendonca's musical contributions have enriched the spiritual lives of many, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of religious music. His dedication and service to the community have left a lasting impact.
Death :
Fr Valerian Mendonca passed away due to a heart attack on July 3, 2024 at the age of 75.
Funeral Service of Fr Valerian Mendonca, was held at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 3.30 pm.
About Clement Mascarenhas
Clement Mascarenhas Born on 23 November 1954 as the eighth among nine children, four boys and five girls of late Thomas and Stephania Mascarenhas of Kelmbet-Bola in Karkala Taluk.
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He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Mangalore on 22 April 1981.
Being a priest, Fr. Clement Mascarenhas began his professional career as a teacher and proved to be an ideal teacher winning the confidence and admiration of thousands of students who still fondly remember him as their mentor and guide. With an experience in teaching coupled with administrative ability he rose to the position of headmaster and later principal of PU College in some of the prestigious secondary and higher secondary educational institutions spread across the then undivided Mangalore Diocese. Having served in the educational field in different capacities for a long period of 30 years he opted for VRS and volunteered to serve in the newly formed Udupi Diocese where he had the opportunity of being appointed as the Secretary of the Catholic Education Society (CESU).
It was during his stay at the Rosario Cathedral that Fr. Clement made it a point to give wings to his musical talents and ventured to produce his first CD of devotional hymns titled ‘Jai Christa’ in 1994. Later, Fr. Clement teamed up with another versatile musician priest, Fr. Valerian Mendonca who was at Milagres PU College, Mangalore and both of them pooled their musical talents to compose and direct devotional CDs, a trend that led to the publication of 35 CDs out of which 25 CDs comprise of hymns and Konkani songs and rest in Kannada and Hindi.
Related links :
Watch Video : PRAISE THE LORD! Live Devotional Music by FR VALERIAN MENDONCA & FR CLEMENT MASCARENHAS and Team
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