By Matters India Reporter

Bengaluru: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has appointed new secretaries of its commission for Theology, Canon Law and Laity.

The appointments were made by the 79 Executive Committee meeting held on May 1 in Bengaluru, says a press release from the CCBI headquarters.

While Jesuit Father Francis Gonsalves takes over as the secretary for the Commission for Theology and Doctrine, Father Irudaya Raj Santhanam will assume the office of the secretary of the commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts. The new secretary for the commission for Laity is Father Anthony Fernandes.

Fr Gonsalves
Father Gonsalves, 58, is currently the professor of systematic theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth in Pune. He belongs to the Gujarat province of the Society of Jesus. He has taught at Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, for 18 years, including four years as its principal.

He has lectured at the Sogang University, South Korea, the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, and other faculties. He has authored six books, edited six, and publishes regularly in India and abroad, says the press release issued by CCBI deputy secretary general Father Stephen Alathara.

Fr Irudairaj
Father Santhanam, a priest of Calcutta archdiocese, is now the dean of theology at Morning Star Regional Seminary, Barrackpore, near Kolkata. The 60-year-old priest is also the archdiocesan director for the formation of the major seminarians. He has also served as the secretary to the Canon Law Society of India from 2013 to 2015 and the deputy secretary of Bengal Regional Bishops’ Council from 2009 to 2015.

Fr Fernandes
Father Fernandes, 52, from Bombay archdiocese is currently the parish priest of St. Teresa’s Church, Girgaum, and the manager of St. Teresa’s School, Mumbai. He was the former Youth Director of the archdiocese and the executive secretary of the Youth Commission of the Western Regional Bishops’ Council.