Fr. Ignatius Mascarehnas Anointed Bishop of Shimla- Chandigarh Diocese

Report by WILFRED D’SOUZA Ex General Secretary, KCA New Delhi with spot inputs from Martin P. Pinto, Ex. President KCA, New Delhi.

New Delh, Apr 5: Fr. Ignatius Loyola Mascarehnas, another proud son of Mangalore, the land that has given so many shepherds to the vineyard of the Lord, and a humble priest of the Archdiocese of Delhi, was anointed Bishop of Shimla- Chandigarh Diocese on April 3, 2009, amidst thousands of faithful of the Shimla Chandigarh Diocese, flocking from the regions of Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh & Delhi.  

The Archbishop of Delhi, the Most Rev. Dr. Vincent M. Concessao, was the main Consecrator of the Solemn Ordination Service and was assisted by Rev. Bishop Peter Celestine, Bishop of Jammu & Kashmir and Rev. Bishop Anil Couto, Bishop of Jalandhar. 

The Archbishop of Delhi, the Most Rev. Dr. Vincent M. Concessao, presided the concelebrated Holy Mass which was attended by 10 Bishops and over a hundred priests. The Bishop designate was taken in a small process at the beginning of the Holy Mass with little girls dancing to hymn marched towards the Alter of the Lord. The Papal Bull that was read by the Diocesan Administrator Fr. Thomas Anjaneekal, who said that the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI had appointed Fr. Ignatius Loyola Mascarenhas as the new Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh Diocese on 10th. February 2009, and would take charge as the New Bishop of the Diocese of Shimla Chandigarh on the 3rd April 09 onwards. The outgoing Bishop of Chandigarh Rt. Rev. Jerald John Mathias, who is also the present Bishop of Lucknow, preached a heart-touching Homily, wherein he highlighted the task of a true shepherd and leader in these times where our faith is tested at every movement. The touching scene of the whole consecration ceremony was the time after the consecration, when the new bishop rose to exchange a brotherly embrace / hug to all his diocesan priests, who lined up welcoming him as their shepherd and leader and administering Holy Communion to his dear father Raphael Frederick Sebastian Mascarenhas, who is in his nineties now.  

More than 15,000 people took part in the meaningful, well organized liturgy that was aptly supported by the celestial diocesan choir that added the spiritual touch to the entire ceremony. The venue was the Sacred Heart School grounds, Sector 26, Chandigarh. The Diocese was without a Bishop for over a year since Rt. Rev. Jerald John Mathias was transferred to the Diocese of Lucknow. While thanking the Lord for choosing him to be a shepherd, thou unworthy he was, the new Bishop, Ignatius Loyola Mascarenhas, said that his aim is to work towards the spirituality of his faithful and ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE TENDERLY AND WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD. This inspiration he dew from the Bile (Micah Chapter 6, verse 8) 

A well attended Civic Reception was organized in the Evening for the newly consecrated Bishop at the Convention Hall, Carmel Convent School, Sector-9, Chandigarh, which was to its full capacity.  The Chief Guest for the function was General S.F. Rodrigues (Retd), Governor of Punjab and Chief Administrator U.T. of Chandigarh. He was accompanied by his wife Jean Rodrigues. Felicitating the New Bishop, the Archbishop of Delhi, Most Rev. Dr. Vincent M. Concessao, highlighted the person of Bishop Ignatius and expressed his gratefulness to the service and contribution that he rendered to the Delhi Archdiocese and was very hopeful that under his care and leadership, the Shimla Chandigarh diocese is in safe hands now and expressed his support and prayers for the all round development of the diocese.

Our new Bishop Ignatius Loyola Mascarenhas, was born on 3rd. June, 1949 at Kadri in Mangalore. He is the Eldest child of Raphael Frederick Sebastian Mascarenhas and Florina (Nazareth) Mascarenhas.  Those he lost his beloved mother at an early age, he is survived by his aging father (must be 92 years + now) and two sisters, who are residing in Delhi. 

After his ordination to the priesthood on the 17 Dec 1977, he served as personal secretary to the then Archbishop Angelo Fernanades from 1978-80. He was the Asst. Parish Priest of Prasad Nagar parish between 1980-81 and was the Vice Principal of Rosary School from 1981-85. Then he was made the Diocesan Youth Director, and Asst. Parish Priest of RK Puram, from 1985-91. From the year 1992-2000 he was chosen to serve in diocesan formation by becoming Rector of Minor Seminary (Vinay Gurkul at Gurgaon)  and (at Pratiskha, New Delhi) the Major seminary of the Archdiocese. From the year 2002 he took charge of the Basic / Small Christian Community Development as its Director and was also the Director, of Charismatic Renewal Movement from the year 2004-06. From the year 2006 onwards till the time he was appointed the new Bishop he was serving as the Rector of the Krist Jyoti Gurukul Regional Propaedeutic Seminary at Kauli, Patiala (Punjab). The New Bishop is also an accomplished academician who has  MA in English Literature and B. Ed degrees besides several ecclesiastical qualifications to his credit.   

The new Bishop is a good listener, always committed & dedicated to his work and finds lots of solace in his ministry, where he interacts with his people effectively, finding ways to bring them close to the Lord.  Prayerful that he is, spends lots of time in contemplation in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The new Bishop has been blessed by sense of humor and can make one feel at home and at ease, be it any tough situation. Very cool in nature and has the strength to take things in his stride as they come without any expectation. A very committed konkanite, who takes lots of pride to speak Konkani and has always made efforts, attended the KCA cultural functions at New Delhi.