From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 12: Archbishop of Bangalore Most Rev Dr Bernard Blasius Moras, who turned 75 on Wednesday, was warmly greeted and felicitated by Vatican’s Envoy to India and Sri Lanka,

Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio, and his brother Bishops from different dioceses in Karnataka along with political leaders and other community leaders throughout the day.

However, the highlight of the day’s celebrations starting from morning with the visit of Karnataka’s Home Minister and KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara and several other political leaders and dignitaries besides hoards of priests, nuns and religious and the faithful, was a solemn Holy Mass at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral with Archbishop Pennacchio preaching the homily with the platinum jubilarian Archbishop as the main celebrant.

Bishops Aloysius Paul D’Souza (Mangalore), Gerald Lobo (Udupi), Derrick Fernandes (Karwar), Henry D’Souza (Bellary), Thomas Antony Vazhapilly (Mysore), Robert Michael Miranda (Gulbarga), Francis Serrao (Shimoga), Thomasappa Anthony Swamy (Chikkamagaluru), Antony Kariyil (Mandya) and Amal Raj (Ooty) were the concelebrants with over 250 priests and 300 nuns along with the brothers, sisters and other close family friends of Archbishop Moras as well as Ivan D’Souza, Government Chief Whip in the State Legislative Council and former ministers J Alexander and Abhaychandra Jain among the prominent persons as the participants along with nearly 3,000 persons.

Archbishop Moras, who is now in his 13th year as the prelate of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, was warmly felicitated in the Cathedral itself. Acknowledging the love, support and good wishes from all the religious and faithful as well as the general public in his episcopacy, Archbishop Moras said: "I am humbled and am extremely grateful to God for all the blessings showered on me. Life is a gift of God and it must be used for the greater glory of God and service to the people. God has given me ample opportunities and I am overwhelmed with gratitude."

Thanking his beloved parents and family members for their unstinted support, the Archbishop said it was perhaps fitting and at the same time ironic that his birthday falls on the feast day of St Lawrence, who was martyred for the Church, as the last 12 years in the Archdiocese of Bangalore were also a test of fire for him. "With God’s abundant blessings and the sustenance from Mother Mary, I have overcome all the challenges to the best of my abilities and have never faltered in my commitments," he said.

The Apostolic Nuncio Salvatore Pennacchio, who has just been transferred to Poland, was also felicitated on the occasion as he would be completing 40 years of priesthood or the Ruby Jubilee on September 18, and was presented with a sandalwood replica of Mysore Palace to remind him of the special affinity he has of Bangalore and the State of Karnataka.

Former minister and MLA K J George, Mangalore MLA J R Lobo, Shanthinagar MLA N A Harris, Anglo-Indian nominated MLA Vinisha Nero, newly appointed KPSC Chairman Shyam Bhat, former governor Margaret Alva and many other dignitaries as well as leaders of different Christian organisations visited and offered floral tributes to the Archbishop.

The Eucharistic celebration was followed by sumptuous meal to all the dignitaries and faithful. Justice Michael D’Cunha, IPS officer Sonia Narang, former DGP F T R Colaco, former MP H T Sangliana, Dr Shankar Bidri and many other prominent persons joined the fellowship meal.