mangalore today

’Humanity’ is new Bishop’s special message


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 16, 2018:  A resounding message  from the New Bishop of Mangalore Diocese Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha calling upon the people to rise above barriers of caste, religion and spread the message of humanity, has got  loud cheering from all people.

 

A resounding message  from the New Bishop of Mangalore Diocese Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha calling upon the people to rise above barriers of caste, religion


He spoke in chaste Kannada, accepting the felicitation soon after being ordained as the Bishop and installed on the seat.

He said the real worship of God is respecting men and women.

“First we should love humans and humanity. We are all children of God. The country has given a great message of harmony to the world. Unfortunately, we have built walls amongst ourselves, which we should overcome and work together to build humanity,” he reminded.

“I will work for harmony in the society because God has chosen me to spread his divinity through love,” he promised.

He said that he will continue God’s work as his mission.


“As my motto goes, ‘To the praise of his glorious grace’, the grace of God is at work in each one of us and we are witnesses for the fact that the same God’s Spirit has brought us together – men and women of different faith traditions. This shows love is stronger than death, love is nobler than any particular ideology and it is higher than all narrow dividing walls,” he said.

“As a bishop, I am called to represent the Christian community. Christians are never for their own sake. Nor is a bishop for his own sake. You protect the Christians and you will see them becoming kinder and more and more gentle to cater to the needs of all people, irrespective of caste and creed. You protect the Hindus and they become extremely generous to lend a helping hand; you protect the Muslims and you will see them becoming genuinely compassionate,” he said.

“We have to play on the tender strings of human hearts and produce a harmonious melody. A single instrument, however sweet music it may produce, cannot give the effect of a concert. When all instruments are played in unison and the human voices blend with them, you have the angelic experience. We need to work hard, practise daily to produce the sweet melody of love, truth and mercy from human hearts,” he said.

Prophecy

Lastly, he said, quoting his late parents, that Bishop Raymond D’Mello (who was Mangalore bishop from 1959 to 1964 and hailed from Kinnigoli) had told his parents that their son would become a bishop. The bishop had said so before he (the new bishop) was born. The old bishop’s prophecy has come true now, he said.

The new bishop delivered his message in Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, English and Italian languages.

Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Apostolic administrator, Diocese of Mangalore, said that he is happy with his 22 years of service as bishop and for accomplishing God’s mission. He quoted St Paul, saying he had fought his war but also asked pardon if he had hurt anybody.

Bengaluru Diocese Archbishop Rev Fr Dr Peter Machado, who was honoured on the occasion, hailed Dr Saldanha for his simplicity and knowledge of languages.

Historic day

District In-charge Minister U T Khader called it a historic day in Mangaluru.

Lauding Christian Missionaries for their service in the field of education, Khader said that several educational institutions started by the Christian Missionaries have helped Mangaluru become a hub of education.

Former Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza is a bishop of the common man, said the minister.