Bhopal: A.A. Sebastin Durairaj SVD, the bishop of Khandwa, was installed as the fourth Archbishop of Bhopal on Sunday.
The programme was held on the premises of St. Joseph’s Co-ed School.
The ceremony began with the tribal dance taking all the bishops and priests solemnly to the dais. It began with a welcome address by Archbishop Leo Cornelio SVD, emeritus.
Later the installation ceremony started by presenting the Apostolic letter of mandate to be the Archbishop of Bhopal with the reply of the gathering “Thanks be to God” followed by faith and oath of fidelity to the church taken by the new Archbishop of Bhopal.
Archbishop Cornelio handed over the crozier to the new Archbishop Durairaj and installed him at the cathedra, the official chair of the Archbishop in the presence of Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the nuncio of India and Nepal and Madurai Archbishop Antony Pappusamy.
The public felicitation began at 6.30 pm with the presence of Vishwas Sarang, the minister of medical education of Madhya Pradesh, Deepak Joshi, former education minister, with a large number of MLA’s, IAS officers and dignitaries.
They were welcomed with the dance presented by the St. Xavier’s school, BHEL followed by felicitation speech from Nuncio Girelli, Archbishop Pappusamy, bishop of Ujjain Sebastian Vadakel MST, Fr. Joemon SVD (Provincial Superior SVD, Indore), Sr. Pavithra CMC (Provincial Superior, Bhopal), and Mrs. Bincy (Secretary, Pastoral council).
As a part of the celebration of the installation, a large cake was cut with the accompaniment of the new Archbishop, bishops and well-wishers followed by an emotional speech from new Archbishop Durairaj and outgoing Archbishop Cornelio.
“I will fulfill my responsibilities with everyone’s support and God’s blessings,” said Durairaj
There were colourful dances presented by Carmel Convent School, BHEL, St. Joseph’s Girls School, Idgah Hills and St. Joseph’s Co-ed School, Arera Colony.
Fr. Mathew V.C. coordinator of the ceremony thanked all the committee members, dignitaries and the public for their gracious presence and prayerful wishes.
Many bishops, hundreds of priests, Christians and many more dignitaries from different dioceses of Madhya Pradesh participated in the installation ceremony.