HYDERABAD: Bishop-elect reverend father Samson Shukardin was installed as the fifth bishop of catholic diocese of Hyderabad at a ceremony at the St Bonaventure’s High School Qasimabad on Saturday.

According to an announcement, bishop emeritus Max John Rodrigues of Hyderabad diocese, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Catholic Archdiocese of Karachi, Archbishop of Sebastian Francis Shaw of Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore, Reverend Father Robert McCulloch, Procurator-General of Society of St Columban (SSC) who represented Apostolic Nunciature in Pakistan and the Vatican carried out the elaborate rites to install the new bishop.

Episcopal ordination mass began with procession of bishops and priests followed by greeting penitential, ordination, apostolic mandate and acclamation.

A 60-strong choir, presented renditions of hymns in Urdu, English, Punjabi, Parkari and Kutchi Kohli languages.

The new bishop has served the diocese as its vicar general since 2010. He had remained parish priest of St Elizabeth parish in Hyderabad and diocesan director of National Commission for Justice and Peace.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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