He was the Founder of St. Joseph’s School in Mandya

Mysore/Mysuru: Rev. Fr. Joseph Aloysius D’Mello (72), a priest of the Diocese of Mysore, passed away in the early hours today ( May 19). He was sick for the last few years and since the last five months was under medical treatment in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mysuru.

Profile: Fr. Joseph D’Mello was born in Kedamullur village, Virajpet Taluk, Kodagu district, on Feb.20, 1947 to Rozario D’Mello and Mary Menezes, the third child among six children.  He is survived by three elder sisters and a younger brother (Advocate Davis D’Mello) and sister.

After completing his school studies in Virajpet, he joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary  later, completed his Priestly studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore.  He was ordained Priest for the Diocese of Mysore on April 4, 1973 at St. Anne’s Church, Virajpet, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathias Fernandes, the then Bishop of Mysore.

He has served as Assistant Parish Priest at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Parish Priest at Sacred Heart Church, Vontikoppal, St. Joseph’s Church, Mandya, Our Lady of Velangani Church, Hanur, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Mysore, Holy Family Church, Hinkal and Infant Jesus Church, Nanjangud.  He was also the Secretary of Mysore Diocesan Educational Society (MDES) between 1989 and 1996. 

His contribution to the field of education has been great. He founded St. Joseph’s School at Mandya, improved the educational institutions at Hanur and St. Philomena’s institutions at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. As the Secretary of MDES, he supported many rural educational institutions in the Diocese of Mysore.

Soft spoken and humane, Fr. Joseph D’Mello was an excellent musician and mastered Gregorian Music. He had the honour of being the General Choir Master at St. Peter’s Seminary.  Since 2015 he has been residing at Prashantha Nilaya, retired Priests Home in Mysuru. 

Funeral mass: Respecting the restrictions laid by the Government during the present lockdown, the funeral mass was held at Prashantha Nilaya by the two Bishops, Curia members, inmates of Priests’ Home and a few close relatives at 11.30 am.  His body was interred at the Catholic Cemetery in Gandhinagar at 12.30 pm today.

Condoled: Most Rev. Dr. K.A. William, Bishop of Mysore, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Antony Vazhapilly, the priests and religious of the Diocese of Mysore have condoled his death.