Subject: 'austraLasia' # 333

FIRST BENGALI BISHOP FOR CALCUTTA IS SALESIAN

By C. M. Paul

CALCUTTA (DBIS) -- Bishop Lucas Sirkar of Krishnagar will be inducted as Co-adjutor bishop of Calcutta at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, 1^st May. Pope John Paul on Holy Thursday (20 April) appointed Salesian Bishop Sirkar, the new co-adjutor bishop of Calcutta archdiocese where 74 year old Archbishop Henry D’Souza is the archbishop since May 1986. Bishop Sirkar, born in September 1936, became the ninth bishop of Krishnagar in September 1984.

Co-adjutor bishop succeeds the bishop or archbishop concerned at the latter’ s retirement. The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, popularly known as Murghihata Girja, established in 1797 was the main church of the Padroado (Portuguese) in Calcutta till 1834. It is the first time in the 166-year history of the archdiocese of Calcutta that a Bengali Priest has been appointed to this post.

The Salesians, who took over charge of the Cathedral from the Jesuits in 1921, handed it over to the diocesan clergy in 1972.bishop Sirkar is also the founder of the Adoration Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary popularly known as Diocesan Sisters. The congregation founded in 1986 with six members today has four communities in the Krishnagar diocese with about 80 members. The Sisters are engaged in evangelization, catechesis and the care of the sick and destitute.

There are eight Salesian bishops in India among whom are two archbishops: Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati (Assam) and the recently consecrated (1^st April) Dominic Jala of neighbouring Shillong (Meghalaya). [END]