Catholic community from Nagpur and adjoining areas are excited about the upcoming episcopal installation of Bishop Elias Gonsalves as the eleventh Bishop of the Archdiocese of Nagpur which will take place on, January 27 at 3.30 pm at St Francis De Sales Cathedral in city followed by a public function where civic dignitaries too will join in.
About 5000 persons from all over are country are expected to attend the ceremony including the Cardinal, Archbishops, Bishops, clergy, religious and laity. Installation ceremony will be held in the presence of His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias of Bombay Archdiocese
followed by a thanksgiving Holy Mass which will be presided over by the Archbishop designate. Most Rev. Elias will begin his service to the people of the Archdiocese as their Bishop after he is seated in the Cathedra, which is the bishop’s chair, during the ceremony, Rev Fr Jerome Pinto, administrator of Archdiocese, told a press conference, on Thursday.
The chair of Bishop was lying vacant since the death of the then Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara on April 19 last. “I look forward to serving the people of the Archdiocese of Nagpur with joy,” says Bishop Elias.
About 18 to 20 Bishops are likely to attend the installation, Fr Pinto added. PRO Fr Lijo Thomas, Fr Thomas Joseph and Nelson Farncis were present on the occasion.
Bishop Elias, born on July 4. 1961, in Chulna Village, Vasai Road, Thane, was ordained as Priest on April 1, 1990 in Vasai. He studied at St. Pius X Seminary, Mumbai. A History and Economics, graduate from Bombay University (1982), he did his studies in Community Based Development and Leadership from St. Francis Xavier University, Coady Institute, Canada. .
He was elected Bishop of Amravati on July 11, 2012 and consecrated on September 29. As Bishop, he has been in charge of Catholic Education in the Western Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (WRCBC).
His family includes his Father, Joseph Golsalves.; brothers Robert, Alfred, James and Sisters, Ruby and Anita and a host of other members.
