By Verghese V Joseph –
The Archbishop of Bombay (modern-day Mumbai) and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CCBI), His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, completed 50 years of priesthood (Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee) on December 20. Cardinal Oswald was ordained to the priesthood by Valerian Gracias (no relation) on 20 December 1970.
The Archdiocese of Bombay congratulated him on the occasion of his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee. Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai Most Rev John Rodrigues and the current editor of The Examiner, Fr Anthony Charanghat, too congratulated the Cardinal during the Sunday mass.
Born in Bombay to Jervis and Aduzinda Gracias (a native of Orlim, Goa) Gracias completed his school studies at St. Michael’s School in Mahim and joined college at the Jesuit St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. After a year, he entered the Seminary of St. Pius X in Bombay, where he studied philosophy and theology.
Gracias attended the Pontifical Urbaniana University from 1976 to 1982 and obtained a doctorate in canon law, a diploma in jurisprudence. Upon his return to Bombay, he was named chancellor, judge of the metropolitan tribunal, and judicial vicar. From 1982, he was the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Mumbai, and from 1988 he was the judicial vicar for the Archdiocese. In 1991, Gracias was made archdiocesan consultor. He also taught as a visiting professor in the seminaries of Bombay, Poona, and Bangalore. He was also President of the Canon Law Society of India.
On 28 June 1997, Gracias was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay and Titular Bishop of Bladia by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 16 September from Archbishop Ivan Dias, with Bishops Ferdinand Fonseca and Bosco Penha serving as co-consecrators. Pope John Paul named Gracias Archbishop of Agra on 7 September 2000. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Archbishop of Bombay on 14 October 2006. He has served as Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), which comprises several rites, and as President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, the organization of the Latin Church.
May God continue to bless and protect him as he shepherds his flock. Ad multos annos.