Former Bishop of Karwar William D'Mello Passes Away at 82

(July 19, 2011): Former Bishop of Karwar William D'Mello passed away on July 19 at Fr Muller Medical College Hospital in Mangalore. He was 82. Bishop D’Mello was the first bishop of Karwar. Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, Sr Rosa SCB, Sr Annie SCB who had looked after his health for the past many years, and a few priests and others were at his side during his last moments. Bishop William, as the first Bishop of Karwar, had laboured relentlessly for the newly established diocese comprising of the civil district of Uttara Kannada. Besides giving an identity to the Catholic Christian Community of the diocese, during his 30 years of tenure, strived for their all-round development in the spiritual, social, educational and economical spheres.
His concern and service extended to all people without consideration of caste and creed. Though he was very busy with the diocesan responsibilities, he regularly visited his flock in the evenings. He had time for all those who were with him or worked with him - his Assistants, Regents, Deacons and the Seminarians.
He was ordained a Bishop in 1977. One of his outstanding achievements in the Diocese was the promotion of the Family Apostolate. His vision of ‘loving, serving, praying and witnessing family’ was given a concrete shape by the Family Commission under his able guidance. Its activities and programmes have been highly appreciated by the other Dioceses in the region.