Photo caption: Archbishop-elect of Bangalore Peter Machado being felicitated by Archbishop Derek Fernandes of Karwar diocese in the presence of Father Lucio, Father Kutty and others.
By Louis Rodrigues –
Belgaum: On March 19 this year, Pope Francis appointed Bishop of Belgaum Peter Machado as the Archbishop of Bangalore. The appointment was pursuant to the resignation of Archbishop Bernard Moras as archbishop of Bangalore, which was accepted on the same day.
Archbishop-designate Peter Machado would be the seventh Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, while he is the second bishop of Belgaum to be elevated as archbishop after Rev Dr Bernard Moras, who too was the bishop of Belgaum before his elevation.
Bishop of Karwar who had handed over the letter of appointment to Bishop Peter said that the Diocese of Karwar is proud that one of her sons is heading the Church in Karnataka. Responding to the appointment, Bishop Machado had said he was humbled after being appointed to the most responsible post in Karnataka and said he would continue working for the poor and the marginalized in the state.
Son of late Aveline and Anthony Machado, Bishop Machado hails from Honnavar in Uttar Kannada District. Born on May 26, 1954 in his native town, he joined St Michael’s Seminary, Belgaum, before completing his matriculation.
He continued his high school studies at St Paul’s High School in Belgaum and was later sent to Papal Seminary in Pune for Philosophical and Theological studies. He holds a commerce degree from Pune University. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome.
He was appointed Bishop of Belgaum by Pope Benedict XVI on February 2, 2006 and Ordained a Bishop at Belgaum on March 30, the same year. Since he took over as the bishop of Belgaum, apart from his pastoral tasks, Bishop Machado had developed a strong rapport with the people of all other communities including the officials, political leaders and religious heads.
Known for his humility, Bishop Peter always went out of the way to help the poor and the underprivileged.
His 12-years service as bishop of Belgaum saw great pastoral, educational and developmental activities in the Diocese. He was instrumental in building a number of new churches, education institutions and institutes of higher learning. He is a great thinker and a vociferous reader, keeping abreast of the events of the time, and a great orator.
Bishop Machado has been a great protagonist of the family mission and has headed the Commission for Families at the Regional level for many years. His interest in making the lay faithful in the church a strong force, saw him heading the Laity Commission at the Regional level and starting of Catholic Council of Karnataka to have a participative laity is one of his great achievements.
Based in Belgaum, Louis Rodrigues has been a journalist with different Goan newspapers for nearly 20 years and edits the Konkani community magazine “Uzvad” run by the Goan settlers of the upper ghat regions of Belgaum, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg.