Archbishop Felix Machado Installed as Bishop of Vasai

(December 23, 2009) Archbishop Felix Machado was installed as the Bishop of Vasai in a liturgical ceremony held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace, here, 19 December. Several bishops, priests, religious and lay people attended the function. Archbishop Machado was appointed the Bishop of Nasik by Pope Benedict XVI on 8 March 2008. He was transferred to the diocese of Vasai following the transfer of Bishop Thomas Dabre to Pune as its bishop. Vasai is like my own mother and I would nurture her by serving Christians and people of other faiths alike as we journey toward our destiny, said Archbishop Machado. To the priests and nuns, he assured: “Though I am your Bishop in authority, I would prefer first to be your friend and a counsellor”. At the entrance to the Bishop Dabre symbolically handed over a cross to Archbishop Machado, signifying the responsibility he would have to bear while administering the diocese. Cardinal Oswald Gracias seated Archbishop Machado on the Cathedra, the chair, followed by the reading of the Papal decree. Vasai Diocese which has a long history of over 500 years, at present covers 33 parishes and 62 Mission Stations. There are 141 priests both diocesan and religious, 10 lay brothers and 410 religious sisters. In this Vasai diocese there are 3 Senior and 2 Junior Colleges; 4 Senior Secondary Schools; 23 High Schools; 57 Primary Schools; 4 Hospitals; 32 Dispensaries and 9 other Institutes.