Bishop Emeritus Salvadore Lobo of Baruipur felicitated on Episcopal Silver Jubilee

The Diocese of Baruipur organized a prayerful felicitation program on Monday, January 23 to celebrate 25 years of episcopal consecration of Bishop Emeritus Salvadore Lobo.

Other 22 senior priests were also felicitated during the day’s program. Each one of them in their own capacity contributed towards the growth of the diocese during these challenging decades.

The Jubilee mass and felicitation was held at Holy Cross school hall. Bishop Salvadore Lobo was the main celebrant along with bishops and other jubilarians.  

In his homily, Bishop Lobo said, “Though unworthy to shepherd the diocese, that was erected in 1977, it was by the strength of God that led me to take up many challenges; I did what God desired during my tenure, I served the diocese as Bishop.”

Bishop Lobo gave all the credit to the Vicar Generals and the clergy of Baruipur. He said humorously, “My Vicars General (Fr. Moloy Mondol, Late Fr. Anil Mitra, S.J. Fr. Shyamol Bose, Fr. Meghnad Singha, Fr. Jonas Singha) and the priests of the various diocesan commissions and parishes did everything, I only signed.”

The Jubilee thanksgiving liturgy was followed by a felicitation meeting. There was welcome dance by the girls, speeches by the Bishops and the Jubilarians clergy.

Several other Bishops of Bengal, including His Grace, Archbishop Thomas D’Souza, Archdiocese of Calcutta, Bishop Stephen Lepcha (Darjeeling), Bishop Vincent Aind (Bagdogra), Bishop Fulgence Tigga (Raiganj), Bishop Nirmol Vincent Gomes, SDB (Krishnagar), Bishop Paul Simick (Sikkim-Bhutan), were present for the day’s liturgical celebration and the felicitation

The most senior clergy of the diocese, Father Pradeep Roy was felicitated on his Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination (October 25, 1973).  Fr. Pradeep worked as Director of Dishari, the socio-economic development centre for the diocese, the Family commission, Faith formation and other pastoral development projects and the initiatives of the diocese. Inspired by the charism of St. Teresa of Calcutta, he served the poorest of the poor and empowered the marginalized through the commissions.

In his address, Archbishop Thomas D’Souza appreciated the contributions of Bishop Lobo to the Baruipur diocese.  “Bishop Salvadore during his bishopric walked through some rough and tuff passages of time and saved many challenging situations in his pastoral commitment. Bishop Lobo has the gift of turning any crisis into opportunities for growth and development.

Bishop Shyamol Bose, in his address, told that “Bishop Lobo tried his best to make the young diocese of Baruipur very inclusive by addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised.”  He thanked God for the gift of many priests from within the diocese and those who came from other states as true missionaries to dedicate their lives to extend God’s kingdom in the region of South 24 parganas.

Bishop Lobo created new parishes, he brought some new congregations into the diocese, created opportunities for education and health care, he built a few structures to execute the plans for the diocese in various commissions, (Family commission), Socio-economic development, (Dishari Pastoral Centre), Minor Seminary – Samarpan, St. Xavier’s Technical Institute, Basanti, New Cathedral and a home for the senior clergy in Baruipur, and many other such initiatives.

On behalf of the laity, Mr. Asim Campoo read out the felicitation address for Bishop Lobo.

Father Kanoj Roy, Vicar General of Baruipur, coordinated the felicitation program and Father Augustine Tushar Gomes compeered the entire program.

Priests-Jubilarians felicitated:

Fr. Daniel Makhal & Fr. Jonas Singha (April 27, 1980), Fr. Subrata Kanji (May 4, 1980), Fr. Moloy Mondal (May 25, 1980), Fr. Henry Crasta (Dec. 7, 1980), Fr. Faustine Brank (April 15, 1983), Fr. Charles Montu Kanji (May 19, 1985), Fr. Meghnad Singha (May 18, 1986), Fr. Sylvester Xavier (May 3, 1987), Fr. Francis Makhal (May 28, 1989), Fr. (Dr.) J. A. Santhanam (April 22, 1990), Bishop Shyamol Bose (May 5, 1991), Fr. Sunil Aloysius Ray (April 26, 1992), Fr. J. R. Dejus (May 4, 1992), Fr. Aloke A. Kanji (May 24, 1992), Fr. Proloy Boidya (April 29, 1995), Fr. J. Pathianathan (May 7, 1995), Fr. E. Augustine (May 20, 1996), Fr. Soosaiappan Yesukarni (May 25, 1996), Fr. Panneer Selvam (May 26, 1998), Fr. John Britto (Sept. 29, 1998).