Fourth Goan Cardinal, Oswald Gracias
BY ZITO ALMEIDA His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, appointed His Grace Archbishop Oswald. Gracias as Cardinal on 17th October 2007.If he has been the tenth cardinal of India, he is the fourth Goan cardinal after late Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay late Joseph Cardinal Cordeiro, Archbishop of Karachi-Pakistan and Ivan Cardinal Dias, presently Prefect of the Congregation of the. Evangelisation of Peoples, Rome. The new cardinal, Archbishop Oswald Gracias thus become the member of the College of Cardinals that assists the pope in governing the universal Catholic church, He will be created cardinal at the consistory that will be convened on November 24 , at the Vatican during which a formal assent of all the cardinals present at the ceremony will be given and each new cardinal will receive the red hat from Pope Benedict XVI. We pay homage to this illustrious son of Goa, assuring Archbishop Oswald Gracias our prayers and good wishes, Reverend Dr. Oswald Gracias, was born on December, 24 1944 at Mahim-Mumbai, his parents being, Aduzinda and. Jervis Gracias, originally from Orlim, Salcete, Goa, He had a brilliant academic career and holding various responsible posts in the archdiocese of Bombay and CBCI/CCBI. Reverend Dr, Oswald Gracias was appointed Auxiliary-Bishop of Bombay on June 28 1997 and his episcopal ordination took place on September 16 at St. Michaels Church, Mahim, his motto being: To reconcile all things in Christ. From 1998 to 2002 he was the Secretary -General of Catholic Bishops Conference of India, From 1998 to 2005, he was the Chairman CCBI Commission for Legislative Texts. On September 7 2000, Bishop Oswald Gracias was appointed archbishop of Agra and he was installed on 23rd November 2000. In 2001, Archbishop Oswald Gracias was appointed Vice-Chairman, Vox Clara Committee, Congregation of Sacraments, Rome. In 2002 he was the 8Ath chairman, CBCI Commission for Social Communications and Chairman NISCORT and also in 2002, he was the Chairman, CBCI Commission for Law and Public Interest Litigation. And from 2005, he is the President of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. He appointed Archbishop of Bombay on October 14 , 2006 and was installed on December 14, 2006. We thankHis Grace Archbishop Oswald Gracias, for the wonderful work done. for the reconciliation of all, the members of the Society of Pilar. As Holy Sees Apostolic Facilitator/Visitator to the Society of Pilar, Archbishop Oswald Gracias tried and worked very hard to reunite all the members of the Society of Pilar, with the special efforts of archbishops of Goa and At this moment we remember the prophetic words of Er, Agaelo, who said: The Society of Pilar will never die. The finger of God is here: Pilar May God Bless Archbishop Oswald Gracias. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3479&cid=26 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
