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.
In this case, the uncle is a resident of Bangladesh. He has no say in the selection of Bishops in India, not even his boss Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario (the first Cardinal of Bangladesh) whose term as Archbishop of Dhaka ended on 30th September 2020. However, the Diocese of Krishnagar is a bed of thorns, where rampant corruption is going on and which the erstwhile Administrator for three years, Archbishop of Calcutta, found a hot potato. The diocese has become a fiefdom of several priests many of whom have been running (read: owning) NGOs and making merry at the cost of the Diocese. There have been revolts against the erstwhile Salesian Bishop Joseph Suren Gomes (a very religious person) and also reported litigation against some who considered a law unto themselves like the historical 12 Bhuiyas of Bengal. The incumbent Bishop Nirmol Gomes he needs much more than his Pedagogy and music skills to control both almost equal proportion of Salesian and Secular (also known as Diocesan) priests (who do not take the vow of poverty). Bishop Nirmol Gomes has a Himalayan task on his hands to choose the right lieutenants. If he can turn Krishnagar around, then sky is the limit.
The uncle bishop promotes his nephew to the position of a bishop. Please do not be shocked. There are many such examples in the Catholic dioceses in India today. To me, this is part of the “church politics”. Finally, the poor “HOLY SPIRIT” is made to take up such responsibility!!!
Even in the Vatican, during papal election, horse-trading takes place quite openly. Finally, the HOLY SPIRIT is made to become responsible for the papal election. This is the bitter truth.