By Matters India Reporter
Krishnagar, July 15, 2022: An educationist for almost four decades, Salesian Father Nirmol Vincent Gomes will on July 23 be ordained the bishop of Krishnagar diocese in West Bengal.
The uncle of the bishop-elect, Bishop Emeritus Theotonius Gomes of Dhaka will preside over the episcopal ordination to be held in Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer Krishnagar.
Dignitaries expected at the event include Vatican Nuncio to India and Nepal Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Salesian Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar.
Gomes, the sixth Salesian priest to serve as the bishop of Krishnagar diocese was the rector of Salesian College Sonada as well as vice-principal of Salesian College Siliguri before becoming 16th provincial of Salesians’ Calcutta province and headed the Don Bosco operations of Bengal, Sikkim, Nepal and Bangladesh
The first Bengali Salesian provincial contributed to improve the welfare of youth of Bengal and Bangladesh.
To give thrust to quality education, and leadership formation, he had initiated the catchy slogan “KG to PG” — offering quality educational facility from Kindergarten to masters level in rural area, so that young people get access to English medium education.
To achieve this, during his six-year tenure as the provincial from 2014, Father Gomes and his team started 13 Don Bosco schools for quality education of rural children (7 in Bengal, 4 in Bangladesh and 2 in Nepal). He also expanded and upgraded the facilities of existing 8 Don Bosco schools in Bengal and three Don Bosco Technical schools (2 in Bengal and 1 in Nepal).
New centers were opened in the jangalmahal at Dhobasol in Midnapore for Adivasis and Santhals in Gajol near Malda.
A center for youth work was opened also for Nepali community of Kalimpong hills in Samthar as well as at Dhajea in Mirik area.
Two Don Bosco Youth centers were started in Bangladesh at Khonjonpur (Mahadebpur) and Chalabon (Dhaka) as well as two in Nepal (Bharoul and Chinchu near China border).
Born to late Andrew and Agnes Gomes at Khalpara (Begopara), Ranaghat in Nadia district, the 63-year-old bishop-elect has a doctorate in Pedagogical Sciences from Salesian Pontifical University, Rome.
Popular teacher of music, with an iconic accordion strapped on, Father Gomes charmed and enthused young people not only in Salesian College Sonada but also as lecturer and Campus Minister at Salesian College Siliguri.
Besides English, Father Gomes is fluent in several European languages including Italian and German as well as Indian languages Bengali, Hindi and Nepali.
The diocese of Krishnagar established in 1870 comprises of Nadia and Murshidabad districts of central Bengal.