Mangaluru, Sept 15: Peter Paul Saldhana was Saturday ordained as the 14th bishop of Mangaluru Diocese at the episcopal ordination and consecration celebration at Rosario Cathedral here.
According to tradition, outgoing bishop Aloysius Paul DSouza as the main consecrator, along with Bengaluru archbishop Peter Machado and Udupi diocese bishop Jerald Isaac Lobo as co-consecrators, ordained the new bishop.
Bishop Aloysius D’Souza anointed the new bishop with holy oil, handed over the crosier and mitre and led him to the bishop’s seat. Saldhana was then officially declared as the bishop of Mangaluru diocese.
Messenger Javier D Fernandez G Papal Nuncio to India read out the mandate from the Holy See in Latin before the consecration ceremony, while Father Joseph Martis read it same in English and Father Victor DMello in Konkani.
After the consecration, all the priests of the diocese paid honour and obedience to the new bishop.
A large number of priests from various congregations in Karnataka and other states, priests from other diocese and a huge crowd of faithfuls were present on the occasion.
‘Break walls of suspicion’
Speaking after his ordination ceremony, the new bishop expressed concern over communities building walls of suspicion, and said that there is a need of a free society where the air of love spread unhindered. “Because of the walls of suspicion, people are not in a position to respect the feelings of one another,” he said.
“The hate among us should be absorbed like a sponge and the fragrance of compassion should spread,” he said and promised to act as a bridge in cementing relations among communities.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development U.T. Khader, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath, MLCs Ivan D’Souza and B.M. Farooq, Mayor Bhaskar K., Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh and Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar also participated in the function.
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