Bangalore celebrates new bishop: ‘Ours is a call to holiness’
The new archbishop succeeds Bernard Moras who has retired due to age limits. The ceremony took place on 31 May, feast day of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Mgr Machado has worked for years in the Commission for the family and the laity. He currently chairs the Karnataka Catholic Bishops' Council.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Dozens of priests and nuns, along with thousands of faithful, took part in the inauguration ceremony of the new archbishop of Bangalore, Mgr Peter Machado, Thursday of last week. He succeeds Mgr Bernard Moras, who retired due to age.
Noting that his appointment was announced on 19 March, feast day of Saint Joseph, the new archbishop said: "I will entrust myself to the intercession of Saint Joseph, who led the Holy Family and protected Jesus. May the Lord give me the grace to guide and help the archdiocese as Saint Joseph helped the Holy Family."
Several politicians, including lawmaker Roshan Baig, religious leaders and faithful sent messages of good wishes to the prelate.
Mgr Machado was president of the Karnataka Region Commission for the family and the laity, to which he gave great impetus, above all to the role of the laity. At present he chairs the Karnataka Catholic Bishops’ Council, the regional body of Catholic bishops in the Indian state.
The installation ceremony took place in the Cathedral of St Francis Xavier, starting with the reading of the papal nomination decree by Fr S. Jayanathan, vicar general. Father Xavier Fernandez, sent by the nuncio to the ceremony, read the same document in the original Latin.
In his homily, Mgr Machado noted that 31 May is the feast day of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. "The purpose of the visit,” he said, “was to fulfill Elizabeth’s and all mankind’s mission. God has a mission for each of us, especially for me, ever since I first visited this archdiocese."
“God” he added, “has a mission for priests, religious and every person present here. Like Mary, we are tasked with bringing Jesus to the world."
The archbishop compared his work to the mission of the Virgin who "made God present in Elizabeth’s house with her visit. Likewise, I too - together with priests and religious – am tasked with making God present among people. Ours is a call to holiness."
"Mary visited Elizabeth to strengthen and support her. I too am called to emancipate the laity by strengthening them in the faith and making sure that their presence is felt within the Church through associations, parish councils and more."
Lastly, "My motto comes from the Gospel of John (2:5) 'Do whatever he tells you,' I will try to do God’s will and for this I ask everyone to pray for me so that I can fulfill God’s will in my life."
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