Pope nominates a New Bishop for Bareilly Diocese

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Anthony Fernandes from the pastoral governance of the North Indian Diocese of Bareilly, in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law and has nominated Fr. Ignatius D'Souza, Vicar General and Parish Priest of the Cathedral of Lucknow, as the new Bishop of Bareilly Diocese.  

Rev. Dr. Ignatius D’souza was born August 4, 1964 at Basrikatte, Diocese of Chikmagalur. He attended school in his native village, before moving to the minor seminary in Lucknow where he continued his studies in philosophy and theology at St. Joseph's Regional Seminary, Allahabad. He also has a Masters of Arts, a Bachelor's Degree in Education, a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome. He was ordained a priest on April 7, 1991, in the Cathedral of Lucknow, and he is incardinated into the same diocese.

After ordination he held the following positions:

1991-1993: Assistant Parish Priest at the Cathedral of Lucknow;

1993 Deputy Dean in the Cathedral School of Lucknow;

1994: Vice Rector of St. Paul's Minor Seminary in Lucknow;

1994-1998: Studies in Rome for the Licentiate

1998-2000: Assistant in the parish and in the school of St. Anthony Barabanki;

2000-2004: Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Lucknow;

2004-2006: Studies in Rome for a doctorate;

Since 2006: Assistant Parish Priest at the Cathedral of Lucknow; Member of the Board of

Consultors; Professor at St. Joseph's Regional Seminary, Allahabad;

2008: Vicar General of Lucknow

2009: Pastor of the Cathedral of Lucknow; Director of Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue; Member of the Diocesan Finance Committee; Responsible for Properties and Buildings; Director of the School of the Cathedral; Vice President of the Catholic Diocese of Lucknow; Acting President of Lucknow Christian Burial Board.

The Diocese of Bareilly (1989), is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Agra and has an area of 32,860 square kilometers and a population of 10,352,001 inhabitants, of whom 6,744 are Catholics. There are 55 parishes served by 83 priests (51 diocesan and 32 religious), 42 religious brothers, 289 sisters and 42 major seminarians.