Born in Santa Cruz on December 21, 1945, Fr Bernardo hailed from a musically gifted family in Santa Cruz. His father, the well-known Mestre Santana Cota, was a choir master and band leader who also ran a private music school at home.
Following his ordination, Fr Bernardo served in various capacities in the archdiocese. He was Assistant Parish Priest at Mapusa (1971-76) and Varca (1976-78); Chaplain at Veroda (1978-80), Ambelim (1980-82), Fatorda (1982-88), Ilha de Rachol (1989-93), Mungul (2002-07) and Manora (2012-17); Parish Priest at Ambora (1993-2002) and Cunchelim (2008-12).
In addition, he also served as Professor of Music at Rachol Seminary (1987-2007) and Saligao Seminary (2017-2025).
Fr Bernardo was a member of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music (DCSM) from October 28, 1976 till May 19, 2003.
He had created numerous melodies for Konkani hymns along with polyphonic arrangements in the Gaionancho Jhelo, as well as polyphonic compositions in Konkani and English for Seminary Days and music scores for various Konkani operettas.
