Installation of Bishop Lourdes Daniel

Memorable line from Bishop Lourdes Daniel at his installation this morning: "What do I expect from you? Nothing. Because I believe God has given you everything. All I say to my priests is: pray every day."

Bishop Lourdes Daniel was installed as the third bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nashik at a ceremony this morning at St Philomena's Convent grounds. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Metropolitan Archbishop of Mumbai, performed the installation. He was accompanied by Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes of Gandhinagar, Archbishop Felix Machado of Vasai, Bishop Valerian D'Souza, Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune, Bishop Thomas Elavanal of Kalyan, and Bishop Allwyn Fernandes of Sindhudurg.

In his speech, Bishop Vally reported a layperson telling him: "I have travelled the length and breadth of the country, and have met many priests, but none so outstanding as Fr Lourdes Daniel."

Bishop Lourdes Daniel considers Bishop Vally as his mentor and guru. As a young priest, Fr Vally was his parish priest and principal at Dehu Road. Lourdes joined the diocese of Pune after working for a while, and then Vally was his bishop. Later he served as spiritual director in the Papal Seminary - Bishop Vally said that many others had many degrees after their names, but all wanted to go to Lourdes for direction - and then as Vally's Vicar General. He was appointed Bishop of Amravati about 3 years ago. Bishop Lourdes said he loved his diocese of Amravati and his priests; he accepted the new appointment out of obedience, and because he believes God is working always.