Current Leadership

Born on August 15, 1959, in the quiet town of Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada, Most Reverend Francis Serrao, SJ, is a shepherd whose life and vocation are rooted in a profound legacy of faith. The youngest of eleven children born to the late Mr. Joseph Piedade Serrao and Mrs. Gracy Mary Serrao, Bishop Francis belongs to a family of extraordinary spiritual devotion; among his siblings are five fellow priests and a religious sister, all dedicated to the service of the Gospel.

A Life Formed in Service

Bishop Francis began his journey with the Society of Jesus on January 3, 1979. Following a rigorous period of spiritual and intellectual formation, he was ordained to the priesthood on April 30, 1992, by the late Bishop Basil D'Souza.

His early ministry was marked by a deep-seated commitment to social action. Whether working with the marginalized in Mundgod or serving as the acting director of the Regional Theological Centre, he consistently sought to bridge the gap between faith and justice. His leadership capabilities were quickly recognized, leading to pivotal roles as Mission Superior and Parish Priest in Anekal, and later as the Superior of the Bijapur Jesuit Mission.

Ecclesiastical Leadership & Administration

Bishop Francis's career is a testament to his versatility as both a scholar and an administrator.

• Academic Leadership: As Rector of the prestigious St. Aloysius College in Mangalore, he spent five years shaping the character and intellect of the youth.
• Provincial Governance: In 2009, he was elected the Provincial Superior of the Karnataka Jesuit Province, overseeing the spiritual and administrative health of the order in the region.
• Episcopal Ministry: On May 7, 2014, he was ordained as the Bishop of Shimoga under the motto "Service of Faith, Fullness of Life." For over a decade, he led the diocese with a rare blend of administrative acumen and a compassionate, humane approach.

The Mission in Mysore

In a significant new chapter of his ministry, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Francis Serrao as the Bishop of Mysore. He was formally installed on October 7, 2025, bringing his signature eloquence and his "preferential option for the poor" to the faithful of this historic Diocese.

Beyond his diocesan duties, Bishop Francis continues to serve the wider Church in several high-level capacities:

• Chairman: CCBI Commission for Ecumenism.
• Chairman: KRCBC Commission for Social Concern and Development.
• Chairman: KRCBC Commission for Justice and Peace.

A Vision of Grace

Bishop Francis Serrao, SJ, is widely regarded as a gifted orator whose homilies are as sincere as they are intellectually profound. As he embarks on his new responsibilities, we pray that his tenure in Mysore be marked by the same wisdom, strength, and love for the marginalized that have defined his distinguished vocation.

"May his leadership continue to be a beacon of grace, guiding the faithful toward a future of spiritual depth and social harmony."

We are profoundly honoured to herald the commencement of a new chapter for the Organization for the Development of People (ODP) as Rev. Fr. Tenny Kurian officially assumes the mantle of Director.

A Life of Ascetic Discipline & Academic Rigour

Fr. Tenny's journey is nothing short of a profound odyssey. Born in the tranquil environs of Sunttikoppa and nurtured in the spiritual cradle of Bylakuppe, his vocation was perceptible even in his precocious youth. While his peers sought leisure, Fr. Tenny was a paragon of industriousness, trekking vast distances in pursuit of knowledge and manifesting an early, indefatigable devotion to the service of the Almighty.

An Intellectual Titan & Multilingual Virtuoso

A true polymath, Fr. Tenny's academic credentials—an M.Com and an M.Phil—are matched only by his prodigious linguistic dexterity. Fluent in an astonishing sixteen languages, including Tibetan and Bengali, he possesses the rare perspicacity to foster communal harmony across diverse ethnic and cultural landscapes. His tenure in academia, notably as a Principal, was marked by an unwavering commitment to pedagogical excellence and institutional discipline.

The Architect of Dignity

Fr. Tenny's pastoral service in Suluvadi and Martalli is widely extolled as a "Golden Age." He did not merely preach; he transformed the socio-economic fabric of the region. A visionary builder, he addressed the most fundamental needs of his flock—from the construction of temples to the vital provision of sanitation infrastructure. His altruistic endeavors have earned him a place in the pantheon of the diocese's most revered pioneers.

A New Legacy at ODP

As he steps into his role as Director, Fr. Tenny brings with him a harmonious synthesis of spiritual counselling, administrative acumen, and a deep-seated ecological stewardship. He is a man of meticulous punctuality and immaculate discipline, ready to steer the 41-year legacy of ODP toward even greater milestones of humanitarian triumph.

May his tenure be characterized by unprecedented prosperity and the continued upliftment of the marginalized.

"Rev. Fr. John Fernanda's A stands as a singularly multifaceted luminary within the contemporary clergy—a man whose life's work represents a masterful synthesis of clerical devotion and sophisticated social engineering. His ministry is not a mere vocation but a profoundly impactful crusade, characterized by an unyielding commitment to the twin ideals of communal development and the spiritual revitalization of the human spirit.

His intellectual journey is a prodigious odyssey, marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge that transcends the conventional boundaries of any single discipline. From his formative years at St. Augustine's and the commerce-driven corridors of Nisarga College, he transitioned into the deeper, more recondite realms of the human condition. His dual sojourns into Metaphysics and Theology at St. Peter's Pontifical Institute and Prabodhana provided the ethical scaffolding for his life's mission. This scholarly pursuit reached its apogee with a Master of Philosophy from Vidyavardaka College, a distinction that imbues his pastoral duties with a level of perspicacious analysis rarely witnessed in the public square.

The versatility of his leadership is etched across the geographical and social landscapes of South India. Whether he was acting as a diligent custodian for the holistic welfare of estate workforces amidst the verdant slopes of Tamil Nadu, or steering the academic and moral destinies of students in the mist-laden hills of Kodagu, his presence has been a harbinger of systemic progress.

In his current incarnation as the Assistant Director of ODP, Mysore, Fr. John Fernandis leverages a formidable administrative acumen and a sophisticated mastery of program coordination to catalyse social metamorphosis. He is, in every sense, a quintessential bridge-builder; a man whose erudite homilies and innate capacity for empathetic discourse serve as a soothing balm in an age of discord. Through his life, he demonstrates that the cultivation of the intellect is not a solitary endeavour, but the most potent instrument for the amelioration of society and the advancement of inter-communal harmony."