Belagavi: Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao has said a bishop has an important role in building up the community and keeping it together.
Archbishop Ferrao was addressing a gathering after inaugurating and blessing the new bishop’s house of the Diocese of Sindhudurg at Oras in the state of Maharashtra, 40 kms from Sawantwadi, on Sunday.
Archbishop Ferrao inaugurated the new bishop’s house in the presence of Bishop of Belgaum Derek Fernandes and Bishop of Sindhdurg Allwyn Baretto. Priests, nuns and faithful from Goa, Sindhudurg and other places were present for the inaugural function.
With a population of about 30,000 Roman Catholics, the Diocese of Sindhudurg, which was earlier part of the Pune diocese, was erected in July 2005 with Bishop Allwyn Baretto of Goan origin as its first bishop.
The diocese also includes the districts of Ratnagiri and Kolhapur, except for Kolhapur city. Since the formation of the Sindhudurg Diocese, Bishop Baretto was shepherding the diocese from a temporary residence at Oras, which is the district headquarters of Sindhudurg district.
Archbishop Ferrao, who presided over a special Mass followed by the inaugural function and the public felicitation programme, lauded role played by Bishop Barretto in building up the diocese in faith and service.
“A bishop is always a priest first and like every priest, has an important role in building up the community and keeping it together. I appreciate Bishop Allwyn’s pastoral, religious and social commitments and contributions in building up the diocese of Sindhudurg,” said Archbishop Ferrao.
Bishop of Belgaum Derek Fernandes also lauded the role played by Bishop Barretto in his tireless services towards the diocese of Sindhudurg.
On the occasion, Bishop Barretto was also felicitated on completion of 40 years of priesthood and his tireless efforts in bringing an overall development in the diocese of Sindhdurg.
Thanking people of the diocese and fellow priests, Bishop Baretto said he was overwhelmed with the support and cooperation of the faithful, clergy and nuns in the diocese.
“I just want to thank you all for your valuable support and love,” Bishop Baretto said.