Bishop Dr Henry D'Souza Appointed Apostolic Administrator of Shimoga

Daijiworld Media Network - Bellary
With Inputs from Media Release

Bellary, Oct 17: The Vatican has appointed bishop of Bellary Dr Henry D’Souza as the Apostolic administrator of Shimoga diocese, giving him the additional responsibility from October 16.

The diocese of Shimoga was vacant after the transfer of Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo as the first bishop of the newly-erected diocese of Udupi.

Bishop Dr Lobo took charge of the Udupi diocese at a colourful ceremony held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Miracles Church, Kallianpur on October 15.

Bishop Henry D’Souza with his multi-faceted personality holds a number of responsibilities. Presently, he is the chairman of the commissions for youth and social communications of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops’ Council.

In addition, he is also the chairman of the youth commission of Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).

Bishop D’Souza led the recently held three-day Yuvajanotsava, a three-day Karnataka Regional Youth Convention held in Beltangady in which more than 6,000 Catholic youth participated.

The diocese of Shimoga was erected on November 14, 1988 by the Blessed Pope John Paul II and former Archbishop of Bangalore was its first bishop. Bishop Dr Lobo succeeded him in 2000.

The diocese of Shimoga has a geographical area of 21,405 sq kms spread over the revenue districts of Shimoga, Chitradurga and Davangere, and has a Catholic population of 20,506.

The diocese has 37 diocesan priests, 15 religious priests, about 160 religious nuns with one senior grade college, one technical institution and fifteen high schools.

Bishop Henry D’Souza will serve as the Apostolic administrator until the new Bishop takes charge of the Shimoga Diocese.