Ordination of new bishop of Buxar

(June 22, 2009) The faithful of the diocese of Buxar in eastern India’s Bihar state received their new bishop on Sunday, with the episcopal ordination of Fr. Sebastian Kallupura during a solemn Eucharistic celebration in Buxar. Archbishop William D’Souza of Patna, the former bishop of Buxar presided over the ordination ceremony at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, which was attended by bishops from Uttar Pradesh, Patna, Allahabad, Banaras, Assam, Bhagalpur, Bethiya, Ranchi, and Purnia. “Giving Honor to All” was the theme of the solemn Episcopal ordination. The see of Buxar diocese had been vacant since October, 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI transferred its first bishop William D’Souza to Patna as archbishop. 55-year old Bishop Kallupura was born in Kottiyur, Kerala and was ordained priest in 1984. Diocese of Buxar, with its mission to build a just and humane society where every person's dignity and rights are upheld, has been working in the districts of Buxar, Bhojpur, Rohtas and Kaimur for years, especially in the fields of education, health, building awareness of rights and social empowerment. Ahead of his episcopal ordination, bishop Kallupura, who earlier directed Sewa Kendra-Patna and Bihar Social Forum said, “A better world is truly possible, if you and I join hands to build it.”