Thousands attend ordination of Mangalore Diocese Bishop

Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha was ordained as the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese at Rosario Cathedral in Mangaluru on Saturday.

In what is described as a rare event, the Episcopal Ordination ceremony was led by Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Mangalore, Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza and co-consecrated by Bengaluru Archbishop Most Rev Dr Peter Machado and Diocese of Udupi Bishop Most Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo. The sermon was delivered by Shivamogga Diocese Bishop Rev Fr Antony Serrao.

The Pope’s representative, Rev Msgr Javier D Fernandez G, read the appointment order in Latin issued by Pope Francis dated July 3, 2018. The same was translated in English by St Joseph Seminary Rector Rev Fr Joseph Martis and in Konkani by Rev Fr Victor D’Mellow.

As a part of the ritual, consecrator Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza handed over the Bishop’s ring, cap and baton to the new Bishop Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha. The consecrator took the new Bishop towards the Bishop’s seat amidst cheers and applause from the laity.

Soon afterwards, the Pope’s representative, Archbishops and Bishops greeted the new Bishop as the choir sang hymns in praise of the Almighty.

Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, MLC Ivan D’Souza and others handed over offerings to the new Bishop which included fruits, vegetables and so on.

About the Bishop

Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha is the 14th Bishop of the Mangalore diocese.

The new bishop will lead around 2.50 lakh Catholics in 124 parishes 11 substations with 272 diocesan priests, and 102 priests belonging to the Jesuit, Carmelite, Franciscan and 15 other congregations rendering religious services. There are as many as 50 religious congregations for women, with 1,246 sisters, 194 religious houses and convents.

Peter Paul Saldanha was born on April 27, 1964, in Kirem parish. He was ordained on May 6, 1991. He served as assistant priest at Moodubelle parish.

He later went to Rome and received a doctorate in Biblical Revelation in 2005 from Pontifical Urban University where he had been on the faculty for a long time.

Fr Peter Paul Saldanha has authored a book titled, ‘The Church: Mystery of Love and Communion.’

Former Bishop Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza has served the diocese for 22 years and has now retired.

Archbishop of Goa and Daman Rev Fillipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Calcutta Rev Thomas D’Souza, Bishop Kannur Rev Alex Vadakunthala, Calicut Bishop Rev Varghese Chakkalakal, Gulbarga Bishop Rev Robert Miranda, Mandya Bishop Rev Antony Kariyil, Karwar Bishop Rev Derek Fernandes, Badravathi Bishop Rev Joseph Arumachadath, Chanda Bishop Rev Ephreim Narikulam, Jaipur Bishop Rev Oswald Lewis, Bengaluru former bishop Rev Bernard Moras, Jabalpur Bishop Rev Gerald Almeida, Same Bishop Rev Rogat Kimario, Anansol Bishop Rev Cyprian Moniz, Bareli Bishop Rev Ignatius D’Souza, Belthangady Bishop Rev Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Ajmeer Bishop Rev Pius Thomas D’Souza, Puttur Bishop Rev Joseph Mar Macario, Chikkamagaluru Bishop Rev T Antony Swamy, and Ballary Bishop Rev Henry D’Souza were witness to the event.

During the felicitation to the new Bishop, the Bishop was given a coconut sapling, a citation and an idol of St Joseph—the patron of Mangalore Diocese.