John Rodrigues (born 21 August 1967) is an Indian prelate of the Catholic Church who was named coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay on 30 November 2024. He was Bishop of Poona from March 2023 until that date and previously served as an auxiliary bishop of Bombay for ten years.
His Excellency John Rodrigues | |
|---|---|
| Coadjutor Archbishop of Bombay | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay |
| Appointed | 30 November 2024 |
| Personal details | |
| Residence | Bishop's House, Pune, India |
| Alma mater | St Pius X College Mumbai |
| Motto | Building Up The Body of Christ |
Biography
editJohn Rodrigues was born on 21 August 1967 in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai.[1] He and his two older brothers became priests, one of them a Jesuit.[2] Their father Late Stanley Rodrigues died in 1975 and they were raised by their widowed mother Corinne, who was a leader of the Marriage Encounter movement with her husband and founded a charity to support widows.[3][4] John Rodrigues earned a bachelor of science degree in physics at Mumbai University and a bachelor's in philosophy and theology at St. Pius X College in Goregaon, a Mumbai suburb.[5] One of his seminary teachers was Oswald Gracias, later Cardinal Archbishop of Bombay.[6]
He was ordained a priest on 18 April 1998. Following ordination he served for a year as assistant priest at St. Michael's in Mahim and then for a year as assistant to the archbishop. He spent the next two years studying in Rome, earning a licentiate in systematic theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in 2002. Returning to Mumbai, he taught systematic theology at St Pius X College from 2002 to 2011, serving also as the school's group moderator from 2003 to 2013 and dean of studies from 2011 to 2013. He was named rector of the college, but served only a few weeks before being named a bishop. Alongside his academic work, he served the archdiocese as secretary of the priests council from 2010 to 2013 and as coordinator for the Year of Faith in 2012/13.[1]
Pope Francis named him auxiliary bishop of Bombay on 15 May 2013.[5] He received his episcopal consecration on 29 June 2013[7] from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, with co-consecrators Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa e Daman, and Agnelo Rufino Gracias, Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay.[citation needed] He chose as his episcopal motto "Building Up The Body of Christ".[1] At the end of his term as auxiliary he headed the deaneries for Bandra and Borivali and rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount in Bandra.[1]
Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Poona on 25 March 2023.[8] He was installed there on 24 May.[9]
Pope Francis named him coadjutor archbishop of Bombay on 30 November 2024.[7] His installation as coadjutor is scheduled for 25 January 2025.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Auxiliary Bishop John Rodrigues". Archdiocese of Bombay. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ "Pune Diocese Gets New Bishop". Matters India. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Carvalho, Nirmala (8 March 2017). "Mumbai: Corinne Rodrigues, a widowed mother who inspired the vocation of three children". Asia News. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Alexander, Binu (18 January 2018). "Vocation to priesthood – inspiration and mystery". Living in Faith. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.05.2013" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ "A message from H.E. Oswald Cardinal Gracias - November 30, 2024". Archdiocese of Bombay. 30 November 2024. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Resignations and Appointments, 30.11.2024" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 25.03.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Thevar, Steffy (25 May 2023). "John Rodrigues Is New Bishop Of Poona Diocese". Times of India. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ "Press Note – 30 November 2024". Archdiocese of Bombay. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
External links
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