PANAJI
Fifteen bishops from around the country participated in the episcopal ordination of Fr Simião Purificação Fernandes at the Se Cathedral in Old Goa on Monday evening.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão was the Principal Consecrator (ordaining) Bishop over the Eucharistic celebration and the Rite of Episcopal Ordination of a Bishop, while Bishop of Daltonganj Theodore Mascarenhas Sfx, and Bishop-Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias sfx, were the co-consecrators.
Twelve other bishops participating in the episcopal ordination ceremony were Archbishop Peter Machado (Bangalore), Bishop John Rodrigues (Poona), Bishop Barthol Barretto (Nashik), Bishop Malcolm Sequeira (Amravati), Bishop Sebastião Mascarenhas, sfx (Baroda), Bishop Thomas Elavanal, MCB (Kalyan), Bishop Alwyn Barreto (Sindhudurg), Bishop Lourdes Daniel (Bishop Emeritus of Nashik), Bishop Mathews Mar Pachomios (Bishop of Eparchy of Khadki), Bishop Derek Fernandes (Belgaum), Bishop Duming Dias (Karwar) and Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha (Mangalore).
An estimated 350 priests, including Fr Kevin Justin Kimtis (Second Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, India), Fr Jose Remedious Fernandes (Vicar General, Archdiocese of Goa and Daman), Fr Stephen Alathara (Deputy Secretary General, CCBI), Fr Christopher Vimalraj Hiruthya (Associate Deputy Secretary General, CCBI), Fr Nazareth Fernandes, sfx (Superior General of the Society of Pilar), Fr Rosario Oliveira (Parish Priest, Sé Catedral), Fr Alfredo Vas (Canon, President/ Moderator Priests Council), Fr Leonardo Pegado Souza (Episcopal Vicar for Central Zone), Fr Deniz Fernandes (Episcopal Vicar for North Zone), Fr Lucio Dias (Episcopal Vicar for South Zone/Convenor of the Episcopal Ordination Committee), Fr Tony D’Souza, ofm (Episcopal Vicar for Religious), Provincials of religious congregations in Goa, seven deacons of the Archdiocese and several diocesan and religious priests concelebrated the Eucharistic celebrations.
Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira (Secretary to Cardinal Ferrão) and Fr Polly Lobo (Parish Priest of Calangute) assisted the Bishop-elect during the Rite of Ordination. Fr Kevin Justin Kimtis (Second Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, India) and Fr Joaquim L Pereira read the Apostolic letter appointing Fr Simião as Auxiliary Bishop in Latin and Konkani respectively.
Fr Agnelo Pinheiro was the liturgical commentator while Fr Afonso Mendonca animated the liturgy. Fr Mathew Rebelo of Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol led the liturgical singing. Deron Rodrigues, Moderator of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and Fr Lucio Dias spoke on the occasion.
Politicians attend ceremony
PANAJI: Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union MoS Shripad Naik were among a number of politicians who attended the episcopal ordination of Bishop Simião Purificação Fernandes.
Other leaders present included South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes, Ministers Aleixo Sequeira, Mauvin Godinho, Sudin Dhavalikar, and Subhash Sirodkar, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, MLAs Carlos Ferreira, Viresh Borkar, Joshua D’Souza, Vijai Sardesai, Cruz Silva, Rajesh Phaldessai, Venzy Viegas, Alton D’Costa and Alex Reginald Lourenco.
