Exit Bishop D’Souza-Enter Bishop Saldanha! Stage is All Set for the 14th Episcopal Ordination
Mangaluru: The Big Day has finally arrived that all have been waiting for, especially the Catholic Faithful-15 September 2018- The 14th Episcopal Ordination of Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha who will take Charge of Mangaluru Catholic Diocese, comprising of 124 parishes and 11 Substations with 272 diocesan priests and 102 priests belonging to the Jesuit, Carmelite, Franciscan and 15 other congregations rendering religious services; with as many as 50 religious congregations for women, with 1,246 sisters in 194 religious houses and convents, with Mangaluru diocese spreading geographically into two districts of Dakshina Kannada and Kasaragod, with an area of 5,924 square km, having around 250000 Catholics.
Rosario Cathedral is all ready for the Big Celebration, and is wearing a grand look with tonnes of flowers and other decorations, for the episcopal ordination and solemn installation of Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, as the 14th Bishop of Mangaluru diocese taking place at 9.30 am- and Mangalorean.com will bring you the live coverage and up to date details of ONE of the great celebration in the ‘Rome of the East”. One such celebration was held in the year 1996, for the Episcopal ordination of Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’souza- but this one will be a grand one, beating the past celebration.
Volunteers have already assembled at Rosario Cathedral, and have taken their respective position which they are at the helm. The police force is also in full swing taking control of the traffic, and security is also ready for the event. Various parking spots have been arranged, and volunteers will be directing vehicles to reach to their respective parking spaces. Snacks and cold drinks have already been arranged for the people right after the mass, and after the formal celebration, a packet of biriyani will be served for everyone.
The New Bishop will be consecrated during the solemn Eucharistic celebration by Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Mangalurualong with Rev Dr Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bengaluru and Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi as co consecrates. After the religious ceremony, a formal felicitation programme of the New Bishop Rev Dr Peter Saldanha will be held at the same venue, and on behalf of the civic society, U T Khader, district in-charge minister of Dakshina Kannada will offer felicitations to Him. This historical event will be witnessed by Fr Javier D Fernandez G -the Counselor of Papal Nuncio to India, {representing papal nuncio to India}, Archbishop, number of Bishops, priests, religious and political leaders, Catholic faithful of Mangaluru diocese and other invitees. Nearly 12,000 people are expected to attend this Episcopal ordination.
Huge pendal is ready, chairs are arranged to seat around 12,000 people, huge fans have been installed to keep the crowd cool in this hot weather, emergency/first aid booths have been set up, help desk is arranged- and a large number of volunteers are all set to guide and help those in need of any service. Parking arrangements have been made ahead of Episcopal ordination-those buses coming for Bishop’s ordination should drop the passengers at RTO office, proceed via State Bank and park the buses either in Milagres Church, Milagres College or St Aloysius College, LHH Road. Minibuses and tempo travelers should drop the passengers near Corporation Bank Head Office and park the vehicles at Yemmekere Ground. Four-wheelers should drop the passengers at Corporation Bank, Head Office, proceed via St Ann’s School and park vehicles at Nehru Maidan, Football Ground, and Town Hall or Milagres Jubilee Hall Basement. Two-wheeler riders are requested to park their vehicles at St Anne’s Gate 1, 4 or 5. Guests coming for the formal function at the hall at 11.30 am can park their vehicles at St Anne’s Institution Gate 2 and 3.
It is learnt that the Catholic Church took its roots in Mangaluru with the coming of Portuguese Franciscan missionaries to South 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 September 1, 1886. Fr Nicholas Pagani SJ was appointed as the First Bishop. As many as 13 Vicars Apostolic and Bishops have headed the Diocese so far, and Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha will be the 14th Bishop of Mangalurudiocese.
Even though Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza had to retire at the age of 75 two years ago, but he was asked to continue till a new Bishop was appointed. So on 15 September, Rev Dr Aloysius will retire as the bishop of Mangaluru diocese serving for 22 years (1996-2018). Dr Peter Paul Saldanha was appointed by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese on July 3, 2018.
Mangaluru diocese is spread geographically into two districts of Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod, with an area of 5,924 square km, having around 250000 Catholics. There are 124 parishes and 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 in 194 religious houses and convents.
The diocese has many Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Medical and Engineering Colleges, Social Services Centers, Associations, Movements and Sodalities that cater to the needs of all people in the society. St Joseph Inter-Diocesan Seminary, the Diocesan Biblical, Liturgical and Catechetical Centre, Pastoral Institute and Vocation Service Centre, Catholic Board of Education, Father Muller Charitable Institutions/Father Muller Hospital, St Joseph‘s Engineering College, Institute for Social Development (ISD), Employ Me, St Joseph’s Asylum Industrial Workshop, St Antony Poor homes, Family Life Service Centre, Counseling Centre, Friendship House, Prison Ministry India, Canara Communication Centre, and many more are among some of the organizations of the Diocese to bring the love of God to the people. Associations like the Catholic Sabha, Sodality, the St Vincent de Paul Society, ICYM, YCS, YSM, Youth for Christ, Jesus Youth, Catholic Action League, Women’s movements etc are active in the Mangaluru Diocese
About Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha – the New Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese:
His Holiness Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of His Excellency Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Mangalore, according to Canon Law, and had appointed Rev. Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha (54), of the clergy of Mangaluru, until now Professor at the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome, as the new Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on 3rd July 2018.
Rev. Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha was born in Kinnigoli, Diocese of Mangalore, on 27 April 1964. After his primary and secondary education in his village, he did his philosophy and theology at St. Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore, and obtained a diploma in Depth Psychology and Formation, from the Institute for Formators, Bangalore, in 1994. He was ordained Priest on 6 May 1991, for the Diocese of Mangalore. He also obtained a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome, in 2005.
Since 2010 he is Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. From 2011-2015, he was Spiritual Father at the Pontificio Collegio Urbano De Propaganda Fide, Rome. On 14 March 2015 the Holy Father appointed him as Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, and in July 2015 he was appointed as Adiutor Secretarii Specialis of the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
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He was born in Kirem, Aikala