M’lorean Rev Ignatius D’Souza new Bareilly Bishop

M’lorean Rev Ignatius D’Souza new Bareilly Bishop

Mangalore Today News Network

Bareilly, Oct 07, 2014:  The Episcopal Ordination and Consecration of Rev  Ignatius D’Souza as the new Bishop of Bareilly diocese (Uttar Pradesh) was held at St Alphonsus Cathedral Grounds with great solemnity on October 4.

 

 

The Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal (Ambassodor)  Most Rev Dr Salvatore Pennacchio was the Principal consecrating Prelate. Co-Consecrating Bishops were Archbishop of Agra Most Rev Albert D’Souza, former Bishop of Bareilly,  Most Rev Anthony Fernandes, Bishop of Lucknow Most Rev Gerald John Mathias, Bishop of Mangalore Most Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Chikmagalur Most Rev T Anthony Swamy and other 9 bishops of different dioceses graced the solemn occassion.

Dr Ignatius, the second Bishop of Bareilly diocese, was honored in a felicitation function after the solemn mass. The large faithful congregation, which packed out the Cathedral grounds, the Bishop called upon  to join to serve the diocese with a motto “to serve the Lord with gladness”. In his felicitation address, Bishop of Mangalore Most Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza said that Bishop Ignatius is the 45th Bishop of Mangalore origin.

Bishop Ignatius brings along 23 years of rich, pastoral, ministerial and administrative experience to the office of the Bishop.

He was ordained on April 7, 1991 in Lucknow. Known for his flair for languages, Bishop Ignatius can speak fluently English, Italian, German, Hindi, Kannada, Konkani and Tulu. He mastered Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Latin, Aramaic as part of Biblical Language Studies. He, as a gifted preacher, teacher and inspiring pastor has served the diocese of Lucknow shouldering various responsibilities. Since 2008, he was Vicar General of Lucknow diocese.

Along with Bishop Ignatius’ family and friends, over 280 priests (from different diocese and religious orders), 400 women religious, and a large number of people of God congregated at the Church to witness the consecration. “It is a memorable  Mass,” said Lucy D’Souza, 81, mother of Bishop Ignatius after the ceremony. “It was a blissful sight to see all those, bishops and priests accompanying the newly ordained bishop and anointing him with the chrism,” she added.  It may be noted that the new Bishop  is the nephew of Rev.Fr.J B Crasta, the Parish Priest of the Rosario Cathedral Mangalore, who was present at the function.