Mangaluru: The Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese Aloysius Paul D’Souza, on Monday, September 9, informed that the Episcopal Ordination and Solemn Installation of the new Bishop Most Rev Dr Peter Paul D’ Souza will be held on September 15 around 9:30 AM at Rosario Cathedral, Mangaluru.
Addressing a press meet here in the city, Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza said, “The Catholic Church took its root in Mangalore with the coming of Portuguese, the Franciscan missionaries to Canara around the year 1521. In 1845, the Catholic Church of Mangalore was elevated to the position of a vicariate. It was upgraded to a full diocese on the 1st of September, 1886. Fr. Nicholas Pagani SJ was appointed the first Bishop.”
“So far, 13 Vicars Apostolic and Bishops have headed the Diocese. Rt Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha is the 14th Bishop of Mangalore Diocese,” Aloysius Paul D’Souza added.
Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha will be consecrated during the solemn Eucharistic celebration by Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Apostolic Administrator Diocese of Mangalore along with Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore and Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Issac Lobo Bishop of Udupi as co-consecraters.
After the religious ceremony, a formal felicitation will be held in the same venue. State Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, central and state ministers will offer felicitation to the newly appointed Bishop.
This historical event will be witnessed by Rev. Msgr. Javier D Fernandez G, Counsellor of Papal Nuncio to India. Archbishops, many Bishops and priests, religious political leaders, Catholics of Mangalore Diocese-more than 10000 people are expected to be present. The formal event is open to people of all religion and a simple lunch will be served to all the attendees. Since there will be many vehicles and people attending the event, elaborate safety and parking arrangements have been made, he informed.
Chief Co-ordinator of Episcopal Ordination Committee Fr. J B Crasta, Co-ordinator M P Noronha, Diocesan PRO Fr. Vijay Lobo, Publicity Committee Convener Marcel Monteiro, CCC Director Fr. Richard D’Souza, Welcome Committee Co-Convenor Lancy D’Cunha, Volunteers Committee Convener Sushil Noronha, Co-Convener Fr. Rupesh Madtha, Finance Committee Co-Convener Fr. Richard Coelho, Food Committee Convener Fr. Vincent Monteiro and Co-Convener Roy Castelino were present.
