Rev. Fr. Louis Mascarenhas is appointed the new Vicar General for the Diocese of Allahabad. Most Rev. Raphy Manjaly, the bishop of Allahabad declared this news during the Consulter’s Meeting at 6 pm on 16^th March, 2014. The post of the Vicar General was lying vacant since 31^st of January 2013 when the former bishop, Rt. Rev. Isidore Fernandes resigned from his post. It may be noted that the post of Vicar General in the Catholic Dioceses ceases to exist when the See of the Bishop turns vacant due to death, resignation or dismissal.

Fr. Mascarenhas who completes 25 years as a priest on the 4^th of April this year, was born on September 29, 1959. Born to the devout family of Mr. Simon Mascarenhas and Mrs. Bridget Mascarenhas, Fr. Mascarenhas joined the diocese of Allahabad in 1978 after completing his High School Studies. He underwent the formation in St. Paul’s Seminary, Lucknow and in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Allahabad. He was the first Allahabad Diocesan priest to be ordained by the then bishop, Rt. Rev. Isidore Fernandes at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Allahabad in 1989.

Fr. Mascarenhas rendered his selfless services in different capacities in the past 25 years. He has shown his hardworking nature and commitment as an assistant pastor in St. Joseph the Worker’s Church, Chakeri, Kanpur (1989-92), as a priest in charge of St. Joseph’s Church, Jaffarganj (1992-1997) and as the Director of DDWS (1997-2005) with an additional responsibility as the administrator of Bishop’s House from 1997 to 2000. Presently, he is the principal of St. Joseph’s College, Allahabad since 2005.

A man with mind and heart, Fr. Mascarenhas has been the member of the Diocesan College of Consulters since 2006 and the member of the Diocesan Finance Committee for the last 11 years. He is also the Diocesan PRO since 2011.

It may be noted that the appointment of the Vicar General in any diocese is the prerogative of the Bishop. He may choose any priest of his choice to this post. However, Bishop Raphy Manjaly had requested for a consultative voting from the priests’ body on 4^th March 2014.