Bishop Alwyn Barreto during a meeting with Pope Francis.
THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Anthony Alwyn Fernandes Barreto (71) from the pastoral care of the diocese of Sindhudurg.
Bishop Alwyn Barreto, who traces his roots to Siolim and Velsao, was born in Mapusa on December 22, 1952. He studied in Goa and pursued his ecclesiastical studies at the St Charles Seminary in Nagpur, for Philosophy, and the Papal Seminary in Pune, for Theology. He was ordained a priest on October 13, 1979.
After ordination, he held the following positions: Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Xavier Church, Ajgaon (1980-1984); Parish Priest at Milagres Church, Gauthan (1984-1986); Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Malwan (1986-1989); Parish Priest of Ajgaon and in charge of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Kindla (1989-1993); Parish Priest at Holy Family Church, Mangaon (1993): Parish Priest at Immaculate Conception Church, Vengurla; Dean of the Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg Districts, and the Sub-Districts of Ajra and Gadhinglaj Talukas (1997); Parish Priest at Milagres Church, Sawantwadi (1998); Parish Priest at Immaculate Conception Church, Vengurla (2003).
When the diocese of Sindhudurg was erected on July 5, 2005, Bishop Barreto was appointed as its first bishop on July 5, 2005, and was ordained on October 5, 2005.
He also served as chairman of youth commission in Western Regions Bishops' Council.
As head of the Sindhudurg diocese for the past 19 years, Bishop Barreto has been credited for setting up various institutions in the diocese and initiating a number of projects.
Some of them included the construction of churches at Bhronda, Bhedashi, Chinder, Deobag, Gadhinglaj, Insuli, Kalambist, Masura, Satarda, Vengurla, Vijaydurg, Ajgaon and Ajara.
He was also responsible for setting up Parish Houses at Malvan, Vengurla, Bachani, as well as new schools and school buildings including a few colleges at Kadgaon, Kalambist, Malvan, Ratnagiri, Sawantwadi, Vengurla, Ajara and Katta.
Besides, he also set up boardings at Sawantwadi and Phanaswadi, Clergy Home at Sawantwadi, Social Centre at Sawantwadi, Home for the Aged at Sawantwadi, New Bishops House, Convents at Banda, Gadhinglaj, Lanja, Nirawade, Ratnagiri, and Sawantwadi.
