Bangalore, 9 May 2025: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has appointed Fr. Nigel Barrett (56), from the Archdiocese of Bombay, as its new Public Relations Officer (PRO). The appointment was made during the Executive Committee meeting held on 6–7 May 2025 in Bangalore. Fr. Nigel holds a doctorate in Broadcast Journalism and New Age Communication Tools from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He also holds a master’s degree in social communication from McGill Univ

Bangalore, 9 May 2025: In a significant step to promote the role of women in Church leadership, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has appointed two women religious to key national positions. Sr Hilda Diago Rodrigues, MMSB, aged 49, has been named the new Coordinator of the Health Apostolate and Sr Margarita Dias, SCB, aged 40, from the Congregation of St Charles Borromeo, Western Province, has been appointed Associate Director of Communio. Sr. Hilda member of

Bangalore May 8, 2025 (CCBI): The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) expresses heartfelt gratitude and great joy upon receiving the joyous news of the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Successor of Saint Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Archbishop Peter Machado, Vice President of the CCBI, on behalf of the bishops of the CCBI expressed deep gratitude to God for the gift of a new Shepherd to the Universal Church. With faith a

Bangalore, 20 April 2015: A joint meeting of the CCBI Chairmen, Member Bishops and Secretaries with the Office Bearers of the CCBI was held on Monday 20 April 2015 at Johns National Academy of Health Sciences of Bangalore. The meeting began at 9.30am and concluded at 6.30pm. His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias the President of the CCBI presided over the meeting. The President Oswald Cardinal Gracias took class on the “History of the CCBI and the Development of the CCBI Commi

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Sonatan Kisku, aged 56, as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Dumka in Jharkhand. The announcement was made on Saturday, 12 April 2025. Fr. Kisku is currently serving as the Vicar General of Dumka and the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, Dumka. Fr. Sonatan Kisku was born on 15 May 1969 in the village of Kaudia, under Kalhajor Parish in the Dumka Diocese. He completed his early education at St. Joseph’s Hig

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): Bishop Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (75), Bishop of Simla-Chandigarh, retired on 12 April 2025, marking the end of a 16-year episcopal ministry that began on April 3, 2009. Born on June 3, 1949, in Kadri, Mangalore, Karnataka, Bishop Ignatius was the eldest of three children of R.F.S. Mascarenhas and Florina Mascarenhas. He was baptized at St. Sebastian’s Church, Bendur, and raised in a family grounded in faith and discipline, his father s

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Sahaya Thatheus Thomas (54), Rector of Holy Trinity Major Seminary, Jalandhar, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh. The announcement was made on Saturday, 12 April 2025. At the same time, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (75), who has led the diocese since 2009. Fr Thadeus was born on 6 November 1971 in Chinnavilai, Tamil Nadu, in the Diocese of

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): In a historic decision, Pope Francis has elevated the Diocese of Calicut to a Metropolitan Archdiocese on12 April 2025, also names Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal (72) as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Calicut. The dioceses of Kannur and Sultanpet will serve as their suffragans. The diocese of Calicut in Malabar region has a deep-rooted legacy that dates back over 500 years. Evangelization began in 1498 with the arrival of Trinitarian missio

Ambikapur, April 6, 2025 (CCBI): Archbishop Emeritus Pascal Topno SJ of Bhopal passed away in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 12:30 am at Holy Family hospital in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh. He was 93. Funeral details are awaited. Born on June 15, 1932, in the village of Kcneloea, Jharkhand, Archbishop Topno was raised in a devout Catholic family, where daily evening prayer was an essential part of life. He joined the Society of Jesus on June 20, 1953, and began hi

Bangalore 4 April 2024 (CCBI): Rev. Dr. Gilbert De Lima (68), the new Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine, is appointed as the Rector of St. Pius X Major Seminary, Mumbai. He will take charge on 1 June 2024. Fr. Gilbert was born on January 15, 1956, in the Archdiocese of Bombay. He did his philosophy and theology at St Pius X Seminary and was ordained a priest on April 16, 1983. He holds a B.Com. from Mumbai University. He had a doctorate in s