Don Bosco South Asia

17 July 2022

Appointments, BOSCO Out Reach, Education, Education Higher, Education Technical, Marginalized, Social Development, Youth,

News written by: Paul CHERUTHOTTUPURAM [INC]

An educationist for 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.

Bishop emeritus Theotonius Gomes of Dhaka Bangladesh and uncle of Dr Nirmol will preside over the episcopal ordination in the 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 of Don Bosco Province, Kolkata.

The leadership contribution of Dr Gomes, the first Bengali Salesian Provincial, to improve the welfare of youth of Bengal and Bangladesh has been noteworthy. To give thrust to quality education, and leadership formation, Dr 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, Dr 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.

Born to late Andrew and Agnes Gomes at Khalpara (Begopara), Ranaghat in Nadia district, Dr 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, Dr 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, Dr 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.