Born on 22nd of April 1963 at Berva, Thumbe of Bantwal parish Fr Faustine did his early education in Madankap. He completed his PUC from ‘Sri Venkataramana Swamy College, Bantwal’ before graduating in BA from Manasagangotri, Mysore. A post graduate in Sociology Fr Faustine completed his Diploma in Social Development from the Coady International Institute, Canada. He also did his Diploma in Formation, certificate course in Journalism and certificate course in Participatory Approaches to Development, thus gaining vital knowledge and mastery over diverse subjects.

Fr Faustine had joined the St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu in 1981 and was ordained as priest in 1990 at the Milagres Church, Mangalore. Since becoming priest Fr Faustine has served in various capacities including as Director of Bhalki Mission, Bidar and as Asst Parish Priest at Our Lady of Dolours Church, Vittal and St Joseph’s Church Pezar.

He also served as Parish priest of Fatima Church, Miyapadav for a brief period, He has held several important portfolios at the diocesan level - as Asst Secretary and Secretary of CODP, Director Catholic Charities, Director RUSEMP Pakshekere, Director of St Joseph, the Worker Agricultural School, Vamanjoor, Director of Institute of Social Development, Nanthor. As Development Consultant of “Caritas India”, Karnataka Region he has helped to build Diocesan Service Societies of Bangalore, Belgaum, Bellary, Belthangady and Gulbarga.

During his tenure as the Secretary of the CODP, he was instrumental in setting up the commercial complex for CODP in Nanthoor to make the CODP self reliant. He played a pivotal role in promoting the cause of the women through ‘Women Empowerment Programme’ and the protection and conservation of natural resources. He took keen interest in establishing the ‘Bandhavya’, a network of NGOs in Mangalore and the ‘Karnataka Griha Karmikara Abhivriddi Vedike’ for the welfare of the domestic workers.

Fr Faustine has been a renowned resource person on several subjects in Social Development and is known for his excellent communication skills. He was the only delegate from Karnataka to participate in the ‘Asian Mission Congress’ held at Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2006.

As Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in India, Fr Faustine L Lobo responsibly worked for helping the cause of the missions at the national level. He also monitored the projects proposed and sanctioned by the congregation. Endowed with the rich experience he has gained in his diverse capacities at the diocese and under his able stewardship Fr Faustine was an asset to the Pontifical Mission Service which served as Director.

His brief profile with Position and responsibilities held as below:

Date of birth: 22nd of April, 1963.
Place of birth: Berva, Thumbe Village, Bantwal Taluk, Dakshina Kannada Dt., Karnataka India.
Father’s Name: Late Joseph Lobo, a well-respected teacher in the parish (Expired in 2000)
Mother’s Name: Emmy Pinto, House wife

EDUCATION

Primary: Infant Jesus Higher Primary School, Modankap - Bantwal. (1969 -1976)
High School: Deepika High School, Modankap - Bantwal. (1976 -1979)
PUC: Sri Venkataramana Swamy College, Bantwal. (1979 - 1981)
Joined Seminary: On 02nd of June, 1981 at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu Mangalore.
Graduation: BA at Manasagangotri, Mysore (1982-1985)
Certificate on Journalism: SAR News & Editaids (1993).
Diploma in Formation: Institute for Formators, Bangalore. (1993-1996)
Post Graduation (MA) - Karnataka University, Dharwad. (1996-1998)
Diploma in Social Development: Coady International Institute, Antigonish Canada (1997)
Certificate in Participatory Approaches to Development: Coady International Institute, Antigonish Canada (1999)

Ordination: On 10th of May, 1990 at the Milagres Church, Mangalore.

Designations held so far:
Assistant Director: Bhalki Mission, Bidar (1990-1991)
Care-taker Director: Bhalki Mission, Bidar (1991-1992)
Assistant Parish Priest: Vittal Parish, Mangalore Diocese (1992-1994)
Assistant Parish Priest: Pezar Parish, Mangalore Diocese (1994-1995)
Parish Priest: Miyapadav Parish, Mangalore Diocese (1995-1996)
Member: Editorial Board of Mangalore diocesan weekly ‘RAKNNO’ (1994-1996)
Assistant Director: Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP), Nanthoor - Mangalore (1996-1998)
Director: Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP), Nanthoor - Mangalore (1998-2005) & Director:
Catholic Charities (1998-2005)
Director: Joseph, the Worker Agricultural School, Vamanjoor (1998-2002)
Director: Institute for Social Development (ISD), Nanthoor (2002 -2005)
Director: RUSEMP, Pakshikere. (2003-2005)
Member: Karnataka Regional Organization for Social Service (KROSS), Bangalore (1998-2005) & honorary member since then.
Secretary: Mangalore Diocesan Finance Committee (1998-2005)
Member: General Body, Fr. Muller's Charitable Institutions, Kankanady (1998-2005)
Member: General body, St. Joseph's Asylum Workshop, Jeppu Mangalore (1998-2005)
Convener: Diocesan Project Selection Committee (DPSC), Mangalore (1998-2005)
Convener: ‘Diocesan Pastoral Council Constitution’ Revising Committee (2001)
Member: Regional Steering Committee (RSC), Karnataka - Caritas India (1999 - 2005)
Member: Regional Project Selection Committee (RPSC), Karnataka - Caritas India (1999 - 2005)
Member: Regional Resource Team (RRT), Karnataka - Caritas India (1999 - 2005)
Member: Steering Committee, Joseph Engineering College, Vamanjoor (2002- 2005).
Member: District Vigilance Committee, Dakshina Kannada (2003-2005)
Long term invitee: General Body and Governing Board of KROSS Bangalore (2005 - …)
Delegate: ‘Asian Mission Congress’ Chiang Mai, Thailand (18th-22nd of Oct. 2006)
Convener: ‘KRISTHOTSAVA’ (Karnataka Mission Congress), Bangalore (8th -10th 2007). The programme was for three days and over 800 delegates from all over Karnataka participated.
Member: Executive Committee, Mangalore Diocesan Legal Cell (June 2010 - 2012)
Coordinator (First): Karnataka Region Pastoral Plan Implementation Committee (KRPPC), Bangalore
(28.06.2005-31.03.2012). Facilitated the planning, monitoring and evaluation of the 17 Commissions of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council. Was responsible for giving shape to the ‘Regional Pastoral Plan’ and putting systems and structures to implement the plan efficiently and effectively. The culture of planning and working according to the plan was set in.
Development Consultant: Caritas India, Karnataka Region (01.06.2007 – 31.03.2011). Helped 5 diocesan (Bangalore, Belgaum, Bellary, Belthangady and Gulbarga) social service societies in building their capacities.
Public Relations Officer (First): Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council – KRCBC (01.09. 2008 – 30.06.2010). Has helped to build rapport with the Government and the religious groups. Mediated between groups inside and outside the Church.
Coordinator: Dealings with the ‘Justice B. K. Somashekara Commission of Enquiry’ inquiring about the Church attacks in Karnataka (2009 – 2011)
Convener: Protest on 21st February, 2011 at Bangalore to reject Justice B. K. Somashekara Commission Report.
Founder Member: Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (2008 – 2014)
Spiritual Director: Bangalore Konkanni Catholic Sangh – BKCS Bangalore (2011-2012)
National Director: Pontifical Mission Societies, India (28.07.2011-26.10.2018)
Member: Finance Committee – PMS International (31.05.2017-26.10.2018)
Member: ‘Christian Development Council’ of Government of Karnataka. Also member of the Sub-Committee of CDC to scrutinize the Christian Minority Projects. (2008-2018)

Posts presently held

Director: Karnataka Region Pastoral Centre (19.11.2018 -
PRO: Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC) (19.11.2018 -
Coordinator: Karnataka Region Pastoral Plan Implementation Committee (19.11.2018 -
Secretary: All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights - UCF) (19.11.2018 -
Member: Executive Committee - National Commission for Bible, CCBI.
Member: Institutional Ethics Committee & Review Boards for Human Research - Government Dental College and Research Institute Bangalore
Spiritual Director: Federation of Konkanni Catholic Associations (FKCA) - Bangalore; Mudla Konkani Canara Kutaam - Bangalore; Sezaari - Bangalore

Performance profile
Established the network of NGOs called ‘Bandhavya’ in the Diocese of Mangalore which is working as the body that helps the NGOs to think together and work in collaboration.

Established & registered the ‘Karnataka Griha Kaarmikara Abhivriddi Vedike’ for domestic workers in Mangalore.

Helped several National, Regional, Diocesan organizations, developmental NGOs and Congregations of the Religious to plan. Has a special talent for helping organizations and people to systematically plan. Known for giving clear understanding on Vision-mission, goals and objectives.

In the year 2000 has organized a seminar on Participatory Approaches to Development for a month at the Institute for Social Development (ISD).

Responsible to establish more than 400 Self Help Groups, at least 40 Cluster level Federations and 3 Federations for women in the Diocese of Mangalore. Promoted Natural Resource Management by creating model watershed management areas in Ferar, Miyapadav & Tallur.

Played an important role in developing the ‘Internal Learning and Monitoring System’ module for Karnataka Self Help Groups at the Karnataka Region.

Instrumental in putting up a commercial building for the CODP.

Participated actively in 4 of the National Assemblies of Caritas India.

Facilitated the ‘Perspective Planning’ for all the Commissions of CCBI and of the Regions of Karnataka, Orissa (22nd – 23rd 2010) and Kerala.

Facilitated the planning for the Congregation of the Bethany sisters in 1998.

Facilitated the planning for the Bangalore Province of the Charles Borromeo Sisters in 1998.

Facilitated the planning for all the 17 Commissions of the KRCBC and of the different Diocesan Commissions in Karnataka in 2001, 2003, 2005 & 2008. Four editions of the Karnataka Region Pastoral Plan were brought out in this process.

Facilitated the planning for the Calicut province of the ‘MCBS Fathers’ in 2007 & 2014.

Facilitated the ‘Perspective Planning’ for the Dioceses of Tura in Meghalaya; Aizawl in Mizoram, Kohima in Nagaland and Berhampur in Orissa, Shimoga, Gulbarga, Udupi and Mangalore in Karnataka.

Facilitated the Perspective Plan of Federation of Konkanni Catholic Associations (2015) Workshop to set up the Vision & Mission Statements for the National Commission for Small Christian Community.

Has given numerous trainings to the Religious, the Clergy, Social Workers and NGO staff on varied subjects.

Has conducted numerous trainings on topics related to Social Development at the National and Regional levels in a special way the Caritas India and the KROSS. The area of expertise is Participatory Approaches to Development besides training on Rights Based approach and Natural Resource Management.

Regular trainer for Development Dynamics Course (DDC) of Caritas India. Translated the ‘CBCI Health Policy’ into Kannada language.

Well appreciated for the Communication and Training skills. The logical development topics and the participatory methodology of pedagogy is a forte.

Organized party wise candidatures and awareness programmes for the people before the State Assembly, Parliament, Grama Panchayat, BBMP and Taluk & Zilla Panchayat Elections.

Attended invariably all regional level meetings of all the Commissions and the all Commissions meetings at the Diocesan level in Karnataka. Hence, is well informed as to the scope of all the Commissions and the realities in all the Dioceses in Karnataka. The interventions in the meetings are well appreciated and are keenly observed.

Instrumental in the formation of the Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (KUCFHR) of the all Christian churches in Karnataka.

Addressed the 10 Conferences organized by ‘Catholic Mission’ in Australia (2013)
Helped the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India to plan for 5 years. (2016)
Addressed National Conference of the Diocesan Directors of PMS in Canada (June, 2016)
Helped ‘INDOCERT’ the certifying agency for organic produces for planning (20-21 January 2017)
Helped the All India Catholic Union (AICU) to plan for 5 years (21-23 June 2018)

Radio, TV appearances

All India Radio, Mangalore – Half an hour interview on ‘Conservation of Natural Resources’ (2001)

Udaya TV Kannada - Panel discussion on attacks on Churches (14.09.2008, Live from 10.30-11.30am). The panel consisted of Mr. Mahendra Kumar the then convener of Bhajrangdal & Mr. K. L. Ashok, the Convener of Komu Sauharda Vedike.

TV 9 Kannada – ‘Chakravyuha’ (21.09.2008, 9.30-10.00pm) – Interviewed on ‘Attacks on Churches’. It was lauded by one and all in Karnataka.

Doordarshana Chandana - Interviewed on Good Friday in ‘Belagu’ Programme (02.04.2010, Live from 7.00-7.40am).

News 9 English - Panel Discussion (Live 0n 08.07.2011 from 5-6pm) on the introduction of Bhagvad Gita by the government into the curriculum of Primary Schools.

TV 9 Kannada - Panel Discussion live on 14.07.2012 about the conversion of Siddhartha Mallya to Christianity and being a pastor.

Suvarna TV Kannada - Panel Discussion live 3.00-4.30pm on ‘Pralaya’ (End of the world) on 04.08.2012

Kasturi TV Kannada - Panel Discussion live 3.00-4.30pm on ‘Pralaya’ (End of the world) on 21.12.2012.

Production and telecasting a Tele-serial called ‘Divya Sannidhi’ every week (on Sundays from 8.00-8.30pm) since the 31.04.2013 for 2 years on different historical and significant Churches in Karnataka. This programme is first of its kind in India. We have telecast 104 episodes of the same. The churches were presented as centres for change in the society with the religious, educational, medical, and developmental programmes conducted for the people.

TV9 Kannada – Panel discussion on ‘Kristha Parichay’ with 4 others from 1.45 - 3.00 PM on 24.02.2016.

Good News TV & Divine TV – 2 Interviews

News9 TV – Panel Discussion on ‘Forced Conversion’ from 5-8 pm on June 27, 2017.

TV9 Kannada – Panel Discussion on the letter of Abp. Thomas Macwan 4-5 pm on 22.11.2017

News 9 TV - Panel Discussion on the letter of Abp. Thomas Macwan 6-7 pm on 22.11.2017

Chandana TV – Panel Discussion on Good Friday in Shobhodaya programme

News 18 Kannada – Covid-19 without discrimination 3pm on 03.04.2020

Suvarna News – Covid 19 (Saamarasyada Deepa) discussion 4-5.30pm on 05.04.2020

Convener in Production of Krista Namana Programme 2019 and 2020 for Chandana Dooradarshana TV

Anti-Conversion Bill – Suvarna TV (5PM 16.12.2021, 9am 23.12.2021), Newsfirst TV Kannada (6pm 16.12.2021), TV9 Kannada (10pm 17.12.2021, 10am 21.12.2021, 10am 22.12.2021), News18 Kannada 10pm (18.12.2021, 10.30am 21.12.2021) Public TV (5.30pm 21.12.2021), Mirror Now (9.30-10.30pm 21.12.2021), CNN News18 (9.00-9.15pm 22.12.2021)

Communal Harmony during Ibrahim Sutara’s death (Ijaab controversy) – News 18 TV (1.00 pm on 5.02.2022)

Areas of interest: Acting in dramas, Organization Planning, Animating Teams, Gardening, Reading, General Knowledge.