Mangalore : Jeppu Seminary Felicitates Nuncio Ambrose Madtha
by Rupesh Madtha and Anil Crasta
Mangalore, Aug 23: The recently consecrated Archbishop of the Titular See of Naissus and Apostolic Nuncio in Ivory Coast Most Rev Dr Ambrose Madtha paid a visit to the St Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary at Mangalore on 22 August 2008. The Seminary had arranged a felicitation program.
The head of the Josephite family Fr Victor Machado welcomed the guest of honour. Fr Lawrence Fernandes, the staff member (who Associate pastor of Belthangady parish in 1967, the birth place of the archishop Madtha) felicitated the dignitary and reminisced the childhood days of the Archbishop as well as cherished the good old days.
The thirst of the staff and the seminarians to listen to the voice of nuncio was quenched when he arrived at the podium. Thanking the Rector for the kind invitation he chose to speak on Missionary dimension in the life of a priest which he admired the most. Addressing the gathering, he recalled his life and vocation. He also explicated the concept and the duties of a nuncio. In his appeal for “sentire cum ecclesia” i.e. to feel with the Church, he alluded to the life of Bishop Oscar Romero and many other missionaries. In this regard, he urged that the Local Church should always be at the service of the Universal Church. On the next day, he presided over the Holy Eucharistic celebration and blessed the community.
Indeed this event created new hues of thrill and inspiration in the young minds of seminarians. The house recalled the last visit of Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana (Papal Nuncio to India) in the year 2003 for the Post-Centenary Silver Jubilee of the Jeppu Seminary.
Mangalore Coast to the Ivory Coast
Archbishop Ambrose Madtha (54) hails from Belthangady, a parish in the Catholic diocese of Mangalore, was ordained priest in the year 1982 for the diocese of Lucknow. Acquiring his B.ED and M.A., he worked as the vice principal of St. Francis college in Lucknow. Later he was sent to Rome for a doctorate in Canon Law. It is from there he was called to join the Vatican diplomatic service to serve the Universal Church. Since 1990 as the secretary and councillor, he has served in the Embassies like Ghana, El Salvador, Georgia, Armenia and Albania. At the time of his new appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 8 May 2008, he was in the Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan as the Head of mission in China.
His Episcopal consecration was held on July 27th at Lucknow presided over by Cardinal Jean- Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter religious dialogue, Vatican. Since then the new Nuncio is felicitated widely including in his native parish and in various dioceses.
He is the second Nuncio and the 12th Archbishop from the native Mangalorean community. He is known for his eloquence in more than 12 languages, his teaching skills and simplicity.
Ivory Coast a French speaking country in Africa has 20 Million population among whom 18% are Christians. The majority is Muslim and the rest are of other local religions. It is bordered by Ghana, Liberia and Burkina Faso on the south Atlantic coast. It is quite rich in minerals and known for the cultivation of Cocoa and fruits. The diocese of Yamoussoukro in this country has the biggest Basilica in the world. It is a country, which experienced a civil war in the year 2003.
Archbishop Madtha as the new Papal Nuncio in Ivory Coast has the task ahead of him to be the harbinger of Christ’s message of peace, life and religious harmony. Rightly his Episcopal motto “UT VITAM ABUNDANTIUS HABEANT” {I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10)} speaks the same. He will embark his new incumbency in the beginning of this September.
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