Bangalore 6 April 2024 (CCBI) His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Simião Purificação Fernandes (57), of the clergy of Goa and Daman Archdiocese, presently Director of St. Pius X Pastoral Institute as the Auxiliary Bishop of Goa and Daman. This appointment was made public in Rome on Saturday 6th April 2024. Fr Simião Purificação Fernandes was born on 21st December 1967, in Chandor, Goa. He was ordained a priest on May 10 1993, for the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. He s

Kottayam, March 27, 2024 (CCBI): Mount Carmel Church in Munnar, which belongs to the diocese of Vijayapuram, Kerala, is elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica. Most Rev. Sebastian Thekethecheril, Bishop of Vijayapuram, announced on Wednesday, March 27, 2026, that he received a decree elevating the Mount Carmel Church as a Minor Basilica from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of Sacraments. A solemn declaration of Basilica will be on Saturday, May 25, 2024, a

Bangalore, March 6, 2024 (CCBI): The CCBI concluded its strategic planning process with a gathering of 67 stakeholders, including the Secretaries of the CCBI Commissions, Directors of the Departments, and Coordinators of the Apostolates, at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore from March 4 to 6, 2024. In the three days of the event, the participants engaged in a spiritual discernment process on the environmentally friendly, green campus of St. Peter’s Seminary. They met

Bangalore 2 March 2024 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Most Rev. Joseph Kariyil (75) from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Cochin on March 2, 2024. He was the Bishop of Punalur from 2005 to 2011 before assuming the mantle of leadership as the Bishop of Cochin from 2011 until his retirement in 2024. Born on 11 January 1949 in the serene village of Arthunkal, near Alleppey, Bishop Joseph Kariyil embarked on his sacred journey in service to t

Bangkok, February 22, 2024: The Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) has announced the election of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão as its new President during the central Committee meeting held in Bangkok from February 19 to 22, 2024. Cardinal Ferrão, who currently serves as the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), will succeed Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, in January 2025. In addition to Cardinal Ferrão’s

1. Fr Prakash Sagili new Bishop of Khammam 2. Fr. Augustine Madathikunnel new Bishop of Khandwa 3. Fr Karnam Dhaman Kumar, M.S.F.S. new Bishop of Nalgonda 4. Fr. Francis Tirkey new Bishop of Purnea 5. Fr Thomas Mathew Kuttimackal new Bishop of Indore 6. Bishop Lancy Pinto new Bishop of Aurangabad 7. Bishop Ambrose Rebello of Aurangabad Retired 8. Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal, S.V.D. of Indore Retired 9. Archbishop Prakash Mallavarapu of Visakhapatnam, Retired 10. Bishop Jaya

Benaulim, Goa, February 7, 2024 (CCBI): The collaborative effort of the CCBI Commission for Liturgy and Shanti Sadan in organizing the intensive liturgy course underscored the importance of celebrating liturgy in a manner that is both proper, effective, and relevant to the norms. Held from February 6th to 10th, 2024, at Shanti Sadan in Goa, the course attracted a total of 34 participants comprising priests, religious, and lay faithful. Rev. Fr. Duming Gonsalves, the Administr

Bangalore 6 February, 2024: The CBCI reelected Abp. Mar Andrews Thazhath of Trichur as its President, Abp. Geroge Antonysamy as its first Vice President and Bp. Joseph Mar Thomas of Bathery as its second Vice President. Abp. Anil Couto of Delhi as its Secretary General. The elections, held on February 6, 2024, marked a significant moment for the CBCI as it continues to address pertinent issues facing the Church and society. The theme of the 36th General Body meeting, “Church’

Bangalore, February 3, 2024 (CCBI): The Sunday and Weekday Editions of the Roman Missal (Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia) in the English language for India was released by His Eminence Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, the President of the CCBI, and the Archbishop of Goa and Daman on January 30, 2024. The launch took place during the 35th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Anthony Poo

Bangalore, 2 February 2024 (CCBI): Sr. Jonita Dundung, OSU (38) belongs to the Ursuline Sisters of the Congregation of Tildonk, Ranchi Province, and was appointed as the Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Ecology. This appointment was made during the CCBI Executive Committee meeting held on January 30, 2024, in Bangalore. Born on August 19, 1986, in Jaidega Nawatoli, Odisha, Sr. Jonita pursued her early education at Jhunmur High School in Odisha. She dedicated her

Bangalore, February 1, 2024 (CCBI): The Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) releases two books: “Complementary Norms to the Code of Canon Law” and “User Guide for Book VI of the Code of Canon Law”. His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão releases the two books during the 35th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI held on 30 January 2024 in Bangalore. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Anthony Poola, Abp. George Antonysamy, Abp. Anil Couto, Bp. Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Rev. Dr. Stephen Ala

Bangalore, January 31, 2024 (CCBI): The Catholic Connect Mobile App by CCBI was launched by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President, CCBI, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, Archbishop George Anthonysamy, Vice President, CCBI, Archbishop Anil Couto, Secretary General, CCBI, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General, CCBI and Mr. Michael D’Souza, NRI Entrepreneur and Phi

Bangalore, January 30, 2024 (CCBI): His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, delivered a message urging Bishops in India to foster, maintain and strengthen communion, particularly among the diverse Churches in India. Cardinal Tagle conveyed this special message to the Bishops attending the 35th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) in Bangalore. Emphasizing the importance of true fraternal comm

Bangalore, January 29, 2024 (CCBI): In a momentous ceremony held on Monday 29 January 2024, the foundation stone for the new building of the Pontifical Mission Organization of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) was laid in Bangalore. The ceremony was presided over by His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, President of CCBI and Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Daman, and attended by distinguished dignitaries, clergy, and guests. Among the esteemed guests p

Bangalore, January 29, 2024 (CCBI): Rev. Dr. Christopher Vimalraj (56) from the Archdiocese of Bangalore was installed as Associate Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI on January 29, 2024. His Eminence Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, the President of CCBI, presided over the installation prayer service held at the chapel of the CCBI General Secretariat, Bangalore in the presence of Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, Vice President CCBI and Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop o