MANGALURU: The Catholic community and the Diocese of Mangalore mourn the passing of Rev. Fr Melwin J Pinto SJ, the Rector of St Aloysius Institutions and Pro-Chancellor of St Aloysius (Deemed to be University). Fr Melwin passed away on Friday, April 10, at the age of 63.
A sense of profound loss has pervaded the Diocese of Mangalore. Fr Melwin was a prominent educationist and a deeply respected priest with significant ties to the diocesan clergy, the faithful, and numerous educational institutions across the region.
Born in 1963 and an alumnus of St Aloysius, Fr Melwin joined the Society of Jesus in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1997. His illustrious career saw him serve in various capacities across Karnataka and at the Holy See. He founded St Joseph’s Indian PU College in Bengaluru and later served as the head of the English Desk for Asia and Indian languages at Vatican Communications and Radio in Rome for five years.
His direct pastoral contribution to the local Church included a tenure as the Superior and Director of Fatima Retreat House in Valencia from 2017 to 2019, during which time he became a close spiritual guide and counselor to many in the Diocese of Mangalore. In 2020, he assumed the mantle of Rector at St Aloysius Institutions, playing a pivotal role in its recent elevation to a Deemed-to-be University.
Members of the diocesan clergy have expressed immense sorrow over the loss of an exemplary leader.
Priests across the Diocese of Mangalore remembered him for his intellectual acumen, compassion, and gentle human touch. Tributes from the clergy described him as a "humanitarian pastor," a "pearl of the community," and a "great Jesuit" who was deeply committed to his mission. He was fondly recalled by his fellow priests as a wonderful, friendly, and affectionate person whose visionary approach bridged the gap between academic excellence and spiritual care.
The Diocese of Mangalore joins the Society of Jesus in praying for the repose of Fr Melwin's soul and extends its heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family and the Jesuit community.
Funeral Details:
The funeral Mass will be at Divine Mercy Church, Fatima Retreat House at 03.30 pm on Monday, 13 April 2026, followed by burial in the Jesuit Cemetery, Mangaluru. The public viewing will be at St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm, and at Divine Mercy Church from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm.
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