Installation ceremony of new Bishop of Poona Rt Rev John Rodrigues to be held on May 24

“We expect around 15 bishops, 200 priests, and many religious women along with lay people across the diocese of Poona, Bombay, and other parts of the country to participate in this significant event of the installation of the 7th Bishop of Poona,” said Fr Malcolm Sequeira, in charge of the installation ceremony.

The rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr S A Louis, will welcome the new bishop at the entrance of the Cathedral, while at the beginning of the Mass, Chancellor of Poona Diocese Rev Fr Joe Abraham will read the Papal Bull, the official document issued by Pope Francis.

The enthusiasm is evident as people from various parishes across Pune willingly agreed to join the choir in celebration of the installation mass. The choir has been rehearsing over the weekends at St Patrick’s Cathedral and the musicians have been attending practice sessions by travelling from various parts of the city.

Choir leader Amanda Alphonso Pinto said there has been participation from across parishes like St Ignatius Church at Khadki, St Xaviers, Good Shepherd Church and others. “With everyone’s busy work schedules, the choir practice was held over the weekends and as a result, everyone has been diligently rehearsing their parts at home and putting in the necessary effort to perfect their vocals,” Pinto added.

Pope Francis appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay and titular bishop of Deulto, John Rodrigues, 56, as the Bishop of Poona on March 25, 2023. The appointment was made in the Vatican, Rome after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Thomas Dabre, 77, from the pastoral care of the Poona Diocese.

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Bishop John Rodrigues was born on August 21, 1967, in Mumbai. His two elder brothers are priests. Bishop Rodrigues was the secretary of the Bombay Archdiocesan Priests’ Council from 2010-2013, dean of the studies at St Pius X College from 2011-2013, and archdiocesan coordinator of the “Year of Faith” from 2012-2013. Since 2013, he has been the rector of St Pius X College. He obtained a licentiate in Systematic Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, and was appointed auxiliary bishop of Bombay on May 15, 2013, and ordained bishop on June 29, 2013. He has been the member bishop of the CCBI Commission for Bible since 2019. Bishop John Rodrigues is presently serving as the rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Bandra (Mumbai).