On November 2, 1937 Rt Rev. Dr Leo Proserpio,S.J. was appointed Bishop of Calicut. His first taskwas to learn the language of the people, and forthis purpose he went to St Joseph’s Monastery atPavaratty, remained there for three months learningMalayalam at the age of 63. He was consecrated onMarch 13, 1938 and he replied to the felicitationsin Malayalam. He appointed Fr PancratiusZanolinS.J. as Vicar General. Fr M.F. Barboza succeeded Fr Zanolin to thisoffice in 1940. Immediately after his consecration, Bishop Proserpioset to work for the expansion of the diocese. He often said thathe would leave it to his successors to organize it. He gave greatimpetus to all kinds of activities. Mission stations were startedafresh and existing ones were given resident priests and for thispur- pose he received priests from Travancore and Cochin regions.He himself visited them frequently baptizing catechu- mensand administering Confirmation personally. Syrian Catholics fromTravancore began to come to Malabar mostly at this time. He helpedthem in their spiritual needs, visiting them on foot, as there wereno roads, and during these visits he did not heed the hardshipsand fatigue. The great educationist that he was, he involved in theopening of many Elemen- tary Schools in the diocese. He alsopurchased the bungalow and land at Malaparamba and shiftedthe Bishop’s House to the present place in 1945. Bishop Proserpiodied after a short illness at St Martha’s Hospital, Bangalore, in 1945.Fr PancratiusZanolinS.J., was appointed Vicar Capitular of thediocese. With un- abated zeal he continued his predecessor’sworks. Died on Sept. 8th 1945.