ASIA/INDIA - The Pope appoints new Bishop of Belgaum

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, on 2 February 2006, appointed Bishop of Belgaum (India) Rev. Peter Machado, of the clergy of Karwar, until now parish priest at Kone.
The new Bishop was born in ad Honavar, Diocese of Karwar, on 26 May 1954 (Honavar was part of Belgaum diocese before the creation of Karwar diocese). He attended St. Michael's Minor Seminary in Machhe, Belgaum and then the Papal Seminary in Pune. He was ordained a priest on 8 December 1978. When the new diocese of Karwar was created he chose to be part of that clergy . He has ministered as follows: 1979-1981: Bishop’s secretary and diocesan bursar; assistant priest in two parishes in Karwar; 1981-1983 assistant priest at Sadashivgaid; 1983-1989 parish priest of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Siddapur; 1989-1993 Can Law studies in Rome; 1993-1996 parish priest at Dandoli; 1996-2004 parish priest at St. Anthony's Church, Sirsi; since 2004 parish priest at Our Lady of Piety Church, Kone, Karwar. He has also been diocesan procurator, judicial vicar, counsellor and secretary of the Bangalore Regional Laity Commission.
Belgaum diocese was created in 1953, suffragan of the archdiocese of Bangalore. It has an area of 44,215 sq.km., a population of 11,939,363 including 29,525 Catholics, 56 parishes, 120 priests (64 diocesan and 56 religious), 65 Brothers, 361 Sisters and 20 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/2/2006; Righe 18; Parole 246)