By Richie John Pais

Mangaluru, Apr 4: Months and days after waiting for a new bishop for Mangalore diocese, it is almost certain now that people will see one very soon.

Prediction

First of all it is not easy to predict who is going to be the next bishop as bishop is not chosen by any electorate. Bishop’s selection is a complicated process where many people from the local diocese, apostolic mission in New Delhi and Vatican are involved. Every priest above the age of 35, after being a clergyman for minimum of 5 years, is eligible to be a bishop. It does not matter which congregation he belongs to, meaning he can be a diocesan priest or from a religious order. And the names of probables are never discussed in public or in any meetings. The list prepared by the diocese is always confidential. It is changed on recommendations and consultations as and when required. In such case, probables list, if presented, will look like a speculative one. But that is not the case, in practice. For a person who keeps his ear to the ground and who knows the recent developments in the church affairs, it is not difficult to know the names presently doings rounds for this post.

Bishop's House

Resignation of Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza

After the present bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza tendered his resignation as soon as he turned 75 in 2016, people as well as the clergymen have been waiting for the new bishop. But Vatican who appoints the bishop does not work at expected way and speed. It is now almost two years since Dr Aloysius D’Souza celebrated his platinum jubilee. But we are yet to see a new bishop.

Reasons for ‘delay’

Even though the people can term it as ‘delay’ it is not delay at all, going by the way the Vatican functions. Though time frame is not specified anywhere for appointment of a new bishop after the resignation of incumbent bishop, in practice, it can take minimum of nine months and maximum of two years to appoint a bishop when a bishop of a diocese resigns.

Msgr Giambattista Diquattro

There are reasons why the new bishop was not made so far. First of all Dr Aloysius D’Souza is in good health and can discharge his duties efficiently. Secondly present Vatican ambassador to India who is also Apostolic Nuncio, in charge Catholic church affairs in the country was transferred in 2016 months after Dr Aloysius resigned. Msgr Salvatore Pennacchio, who served as Apostolic Nuncio of India and Nepal from 2010 concluded his mission on 26 October 2016 after he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Poland. His successor Msgr Giambattista Diquattro was appointed on 21 January 2017 and presented his credential letters in India on 29 March 2017. As he has to oversee 174 dioceses and 30 archdioceses, he has made only 13 announcements concerning bishops so far that includes on Bishop of Mysore (25-01-2017) Bishop of Puttur (5-8-2017) Archbishop Dr Peter Machado of Bengaluru (19-03-2018).

How bishop is appointed?

Appointment of bishop is done by only by Pope from Vatican after consultation with Apostolic Nuncio of a particular country. Nuncio consults the local bishop from whom he takes three recommendations. The bishop is required to draw up this list at least once every three years, so that it is always recent. The Nuncio also consults the bishops from neighbouring dioceses and council of bishops of the state (Karnataka regional Catholic Bishops Council (KRCBC), in case of Mangaluru diocese).

Pope Francis 

Nuncio can consult any clergymen of any congregation, nuns and any lay person of ‘outstanding wisdom,’ to get opinion on the priests who are listed. He can cancel any name after necessary consultation with bishops from the state or on his own without assigning any reasons.

The Pope makes the announcement based on the recommendation made by the Nuncio. But Pope has the authority to veto any recommendation. A surprise candidate can emerge even after Nuncio sends the final names. In any case, Nuncio takes consent of the appointed person.

Eligibility

Any clergyman above the age of 35 is eligible if he has been a priest for minimum five years. As per Canon law, he should be ‘outstanding in strong faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and human virtues’, and should possess the other qualities needed for fulfilling the office of the bishop. He should be well versed in sacred Scripture, theology and canon law and, preferably, hold a doctorate in one of these fields.

The nuncio then decides on a short list sent by the bishop of three candidates for further investigation and seeks precise information on each of them. The nuncio will ask those consulted about individual candidates to observe the strictest confidentiality on the fact of the consultation. He will then sends to the Pope a list terna of the three candidates that seem to be the most appropriate for consideration, together with all the information that has been gathered on them and accompanying the information with the conclusions that he himself draws from the evidence.

Pontifical secret

Pontifical secret, as per Canon law, is a secret which requires greater than ordinary confidentiality. Canon law insists on enabling those consulted to provide information and express their views confidentially, requiring that they be consulted "individually and in secret".

All the people who contributed to the appointment of bishop are required maintain the secrecy as per the seventh of the ten pontifical secrets to be maintained.

List of probables

Fr Peter Paul Saldanha, Fr Walter D’Mello, Fr John Baptist Saldanha, Fr Onil D’Souza, Fr Joseph Martis and Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo are in the list of probables. They are all from Mangaluru diocese. Only Fr Peter Paul Saldanha presently resides outside India that is in Rome. Fr Faustine Lobo is a resident of Bengaluru.

This list is not in any order, and is not exhaustive. The list contains the names which appeared in the recent past. Some of the names may have been excluded from the list at present. Some names may have been added to the list also.

Fr Peter Paul Saldanha

Fr Peter Paul Saldanha, born on 27 April 1964 in Kirem parish, was ordained on May 6, 1991. He served as assistant priest at Moodubelle parish of present Udupi diocese and in Milagres parish in Mangaluru diocese.

He later went to Rome and earned a Licentiate in 2001 and Doctorate in Biblical Revelation in 2005 from Pontifical Urban University where he has been on the faculty for a long while now. Fr Peter Paul Saldanha has authored a book titled ‘The Church: Mystery of Love and Communion’ which reveals his knowledge and commitment to the church. He does not have much of administrative experience. But he is known to be very people friendly.

He is attached to St Joseph’s seminary and has been visiting hometown once a year.

Fr Onil D’Souza

Fr Onil D’Souza was born in Belman parish of now Udupi diocese on 3 October 1964. He was ordained on 1 May 1992. He served at Bidar, Valencia, Pangla and Nakre. He was appointed as assistant director of CODP in 2002 and later was made director of CODP.

As the chief of CODP, he was instrumental in providing houses for the poor in the diocese during the Jubilee Year. Then he was sent to St Antony’s Institutes where he brought in revolutionary changes which are appreciated by many. He is also one of main architects of Mangaluru diocese’s Same Mission in Tanzania. Of late, he has been giving retreats in many parishes inside and outside the diocese.

He has vast administrative experience and is one of the top organizers among priests in the diocese.

Fr Joseph Martis

Fr Joseph Martis was born 4 June 1960 at Pangla parish of now Udupi diocese. He was ordained on 3 May 1988. He served at Bondel and Bendur parishes before he took up as professor at St Joseph’s Seminary in 1996. He went to France for higher studies in 2003. He was appointed as Rector of St Joseph’s Seminary in 2010.

Fr Joseph is known for his knowledge as well as humoristic approach to life.

Residents of St Joseph Seminary say that Fr Martis has introduced many changes in the seminary not only concerning teaching to seminarians, but on how they live a better life as human beings.

Fr Walter D’Mello

Fr Walter D’Mello was born on 3 March 1955 in Panja and was ordained on 19 April 1983. He served at Manipal, Belman and Mukka. He was the manager of St Joseph’s Workshop where he introduced many changes keeping up with changing times.

While in Mukka, he was instrumental in bringing Mukka Welfare Society into more prominence with his visionary approach.

He was also the parish priest of Milagres Church. After that he went to Rome for higher studies in Canon Law. Upon his comeback, he was made Judicial Vicar of diocese. He also offers his pastoral services at Paldane and currently resides there.

Fr Walter D’Mello is a trouble shooter. He has great knowledge and experience of administration. He is oldest among the contenders.

Fr J B Saldanha

Fr J B Saldanha was born on 29 October 1963 at Modankap. He was ordained on 10 May 1990.

Fr Saldanha completed his doctorate studies in Belgium. Probably he holds the highest number of degrees among the clergymen. Yet, he is known for his simplicity. Recently under his leadership, Permannur parish celebrated its centenary. Instead of building structures for the church, the parish decided to build houses for the poor which is the reflection of his people-friendly policies.

He has compiled and edited many books on Theology. He is the head of chair in Christianity at Mangalore University. He also teaches at St Joseph’s Seminary.

Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo

Fr Faustine Lobo was born on 22 April 1963 at Thumbay of Modankap parish. He was ordained 10 May 1990.

Starting from Bidar mission, he has served in Vittal, Pezar and Miyapadavu parishes. He has more than 22 years of administrative experience with stints in different organizations and international level NGOs.

He played an important role in developing the ‘Internal Learning and Monitoring System’ module for Karnataka Self Help Groups at the Karnataka Region. He was also instrumental in putting up a commercial building for the CODP. As an excellent communicator and orator, he has appeared on many radio and television programmes.

Present Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza

Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, born in 1941 at Agrar parish near Bantwal, completed 75 years on 21 June 2016. He was ordained as a priest on 3 December 1966.

Dr D’Souza served as assistant priest of the Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar and Bishop of Dr Basil Salvador D'Souza appointed him as the Diocesan Secretary subsequently. He was sent to Rome in 1971 to do a doctorate in canonical law, where he specialized in Christian Marriage Law. Upon completing his doctorate, he was appointed as an Advocate of Roman Rota—the supreme tribunal of Catholic Church, thereby becoming the first Indian priest to achieve this distinction. He became Judicial Vicar of the Mangalore Tribunal in 1984.

Dr D’Souza was appointed the chancellor of the Mangalore Diocese in 1977. During this time, he was in charge of vocations and founded Gladson Home, a minor seminary in Bolar. He simultaneously held the posts of the Vicar of the Cascia parish from 1988 as well as that of the Director of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women from 1985. In 1995, he became the first Diocesan priest to be appointed as the first Rector of St. Joseph's Seminary in Jeppu.

Dr D’Souza as Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese

On 11 January 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed D'Souza as Auxiliary Bishop of the Mangaluru Diocese. Upon Bishop Basil Salvador D'Souza's sudden death in 1996, he was appointed as titular Bishop on 15 May of the same year. On 27 December, he was formally installed as Bishop of Mangaluru.

Dr Aloysius has been hailed for bringing revolutionary changes in the diocese especially in education, health and spirituality sectors. He is also known as people’s bishop. He is also known for leading a simple life.

Countdown begins for announcement

After the announcement of archbishop of Bengaluru was made last month, all believe that announcement of Mangaluru bishop will be made soon. Then follows the announcement of bishop of Belagavi, which is vacant after Dr Peter Machado was made Archbishop of Bengaluru.

Rosario Cathedral

One among the six in the above mentioned list will become the bishop of Mangaluru. Many people say Fr Peter Paul Saldanha is the favourite. But going by the tradition in Vatican, no one can be a favourite. There can be surprises also.

Five among the six will be left out. But they are not excluded because of some fault found in them. All these five may be eminently worthy and suitable, but only one can be selected.

Though there is no upper age limit to appoint a bishop, some clergymen say the present Pope insists that it is better to choose someone below the age of 55.

Last minute surprises

Vatican is known for surprises. There is another distant possibility of not choosing anyone from the list here, but getting a bishop from another diocese. While Mangaluru diocese has given so many bishops to other dioceses, and people from elsewhere have accepted them, Mangalore diocese too will have to accept a bishop from other diocese, says a layperson close to the church administration.

A clergyman from religious order as a bishop is not ruled out. But there is no such contender within the diocese. Fr Pius D’Souza, a Carmelite priest, had appeared in the list before. We are not sure if his name has remained till now. We should remember a Jesuit priest Fr Francis Serrao was made bishop of Shivamogga some years back.

The announcement is expected to be made in between April 9 and May 10. Installation ceremony will be held at Rosario Cathedral after June 1 depending on the announcement date.