Most Rev. Dr. Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman was elected as the new President of the CCBI by the 31st Plenary Assembly of the National Episcopal Conference of India, at Joe Animation Centre, Mahabalipurm, Chennai, Tamilnadu. He will replace His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay who served the Conference as its President for three terms of two years each from 2013 to 2019.
Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy Archbishop of Chennai- Mylapore and Most Rev. Dr. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi were re-elected CCBI Vice president and Secretary General respectively. His Grace Archbishop Filipe Neri (65) was the former Vice President of the CCBI from 2011 to 2017. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman at the age of 40, on 20 December, 1993. He was installed as the Archbishop on 21 March, 2004. He also served the CBCI as its Vice President. He is presently the Chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) Office of Education and Faith Formation (OEFF).
His Excellency Archbishop Antonysamy (66), held various responsibilities of the Catholic Church in the past, viz. Pope’s Ambassador to Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone; charge d’Affaires of the Vatican Embassy in Jordan. In 2012 he was appointed the sixth Archbishop of Chennai-Mylapore Archdiocese. The re-elected Secretary General of the CCBI Archbishop Anil Couto (64) held this office: he was the Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi, and Bishop of Jullundur. At present he is the Archbishop of Delhi since 2012.
The Assembly deliberated the theme “The Joy of the Gospel” and it chalked out detailed programmes and action plans to revitalize the ministry of love and compassion for the Church at the diocesan and parish levels.
Source: CCBI (Face book)
