17-07-2022

Salesian Educationist to be ordained Bishop of Krishnagar

Opened 13 schools, expanded 8, upgraded 3 Technical Schools.Krishnagar, West Bengal,17 July 2022 : An educationist for almost four decades, Salesian priest Dr. Nirmol Vincent Gomes who headed Don Bosco operations of Bengal, Sikkim, Nepal and Bangladesh will be ordained Bishop of Krishnanagar diocese of Nadia, West Bengal on 23rd July 2022.

Gomes uncle, Bishop emeritus Theotonius Gomes of Dhaka Bangladesh will preside over the episcopal ordination to be held in Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer Krishnanagar. Dignitaries expected at the event include Vatican Nuncio to India and Nepal Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and President of Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences, Salesian Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar. Gomes, 6th Salesian priest to serve as bishop of Krishnagar diocese was Rector of Salesian College Sonada as well as Vice-Principal of Salesian College Siliguri before becoming 16th Provincial of Salesians ofDon Bosco Province, Kolkata. The leadership contribution of FrGomes, the first Bengali Salesian Provincial, to improve welfare of youth of Bengal and Bangladesh has been noteworthy. To give thrust to quality education, and leadership formation, Fr Gomes initiated the catchy slogan “KG to PG” i.e., offering quality educational facility from Kinder Garten to Post Graduation level in rural area, so that young people get access to English medium education. To achieve this, during his six year tenure as provincial from 2014 to 2020, Fr 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). Existing 8 Don Bosco schools in Bengal had facilities expanded, and 3 Don Bosco Technical schools (2 in Bengal and 1 in Nepal) were upgraded. [ Seven schools in West Bengal include - 1. Monsada (North 24 Parganas); 2. Kalyani School (Nadia); 3. Kalimpong 14th mile; 4. Samthar (Kalimpong); 5. Krishnagar English medium (Nadia); 6. Azimganj English medium, (Murshidabad) and 7. Polsondamore (Murshidabad).  Four schools in Bangladesh - 1. Lokhikul; 2. Khonjonpur;  3. Telungia; and 4. Chalabon. Two in Nepal at Sirsia and Biratnagar. ] New centres were opened in the jangalmahal at Dhobasol in Midnapore for Adivasis and Santhals in Gajol near Malda. Centre 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 centres 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, Fr. Gomes, aged 63 years, has a doctorate degree in Pedagogical Sciences from Salesian Pontifical University, Rome (2000). Popular teacher of music, with an iconic accordion strapped on, Fr. 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, Fr. 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. END