A Day with Bishop Salvadore Lobo in Baruipur

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 23 March 2011: My journey to West Bengal to have an interaction with Rev. Dr. Alphonsus D’Souza, Bishop of Raiganj along  with his family members-elder brother-Bernard and his wife, Regina, younger brother-Andrew and Sr. Eugene during the second week of March 2011 had few bonus surprises. Besides having half a day’s ‘Kolkata Darshan’ on the last day of our stay in the ‘City of Joy’, on the previous day we had the privilege of being the guests of Rev. Dr. Salvadore Lobo, Bishop of Baruipur who also hails from Mattar-Belle. He was gracious enough to meet us at the Kolkata railway station on our way back from Raiganj in the early morning  at around 5.30 am coming all the way from Baruipur which is around one and a half hours drive.

 

 

Freshening ourselves and having had our breakfast at the Holy Cross Provinciliate House, Bishop Salvadore suggested that before proceeding to Baruipur we should visit the ‘Mother House’ of the Sisters of Charity where we could pay homage at the grave of Blessed Mother Teresa. On reaching the ‘Mother House’ we could feel the serene atmosphere of the place where Mother Teresa lived, prayed and served the poorest of the poor. As it was around 8.30 in the morning, sisters were busy with their own work. We were let in by a sister and guided us to the three feet high marble grave of the ‘Mother’ where we paid respect and also gazed through her life and work which has been depicted through a comprehensive exhibition in the adjacent hall.

 

Incidentally, Bishop Salvadore Lobo has been well-known for his work with Mother Teresa. Since 1975, as a priest he was helping spiritually the congregation of Mother Teresa-the Missionaries of Charity. After the death of Mother Teresa on 5 September 1997, there was a request to start her beatification process for which Bishop Salvadore Lobo was appointed as the head tribunals for beatification by the Archbishop of Kolkata and the Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity and approved by the Vatican in 1999.

 

In the beatification process there were two tribunals-one for recording the holiness of Mother Teresa and second to examine a miracle that has taken place. The research work of the first tribunal covered 37,000 pages. The research of the second tribunal on miracle covered 650 pages. After submitting the report of both the tribunals to Vatican by Bishop Salvadore Lobo, the beatification process was earnestly taken up and Mother Teresa was beatified as ‘Blessed Mother Teresa’ on 19 October 2003. On the occasion of the beatification ceremony Bishop Salvadore Lobo concelebrated mass with Pope John Paul II at the altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican.

 

After spending some time at the ‘Mother House’ we proceeded to Baruipur, the headquarters of the diocese with the same name. The diocese of Baruipur established in March 1978, occupies the whole of South 24 Paraganas District and a section of Kolkata Metropolis. It covers the Indian part of the delta of the Ganges known as ‘Sunderbans’, which has been designated as World Heritage by the United Nations Organization. The total area of the diocese is 10, 568 square kilometers and has a population of 90,67,800 among whom around 60,000 are Catholics. When Bishop Salvadore Lobo took charge of the diocese in January 1998, there were only 11 parishes which have increased to 22 in the last 13 years with 85 sub-centers. There are 22 diocesan schools, 3 Technical Training Schools, 4 Social Service Centers, one hospital, 8 dispensaries and 3 homes for the aged. Presently there are 36 diocesan and 27 religious priests and 120 sisters serving in different capacities in the diocese.

 

 

After a journey of around one hour forty five minutes we reached the Bishops House at Baruipur. On entering  the gate of the compound my first gaze got transfixed on the elegant façade of the Cathedral and moving further I was pleasantly surprised to see the well-laid lawns and gardens with hundreds of beautiful flowers and plants of different varieties.

 

I was just amazed and practically mesmerized with the beauty and serene atmosphere of the surroundings of the Bishop’s House and the cathedral. After, sipping a cup of tea, I could not resist the temptation of going around with my camera and clicking the pictures of the cathedral and the flowers and plants in the premises. Bishop Salvadore accompanied us and explained the finer aspects of the cathedral as well as the flora and fauna in the premises.

 

The Cathedral dedicated to the chief patroness of the diocese, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Blessed Mother Teresa built under the direction of Bishop Salvadore whose construction started in 2007 and was inaugurated on 12 November 2009 by Sr. Prema, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity.  This cathedral has become a landmark in the town of Baruipur. The exterior of the cathedral manifests the Romanesque style of architecture, semicircular arches being the chief future, whereas the interior especially the high altar depict the Baroque style of architecture. There are 32 glass paintings that represent the ‘History of Salvation’ and 24 oil paintings on the ceiling in two rows of 12 paintings each representing the miracles and parables of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

 

While moving in the surrounding gardens and lawns, Bishop Salvadore Lobo proudly announced that he has around 350 rare varieties of  exotic plants out which many are seasonal and perennial flowers. He pointed out that there are 130 varieties of cacti, 12 varieties of orchids, 20 types of lilies and 12 categories of dasavalas. Among the seasonal flowers there are many varieties of chrysanthemums, dahlias, and others.

 

Moving further in the premises we were surprised to see rows of cabbage and beetroot as well as other vegetable plants. Bishop Salvadore said that he grows most of the seasonal vegetables and fruits required for the Bishop’s House. Speaking further, he said that there are around six varieties of birds that build their nests and lay eggs in the plants, creepers and trees within the compound.

 

 

Bishop Salvadore has great interest in the flora and fauna. His attachment to flowers and plants can be understood from the fact that he has a good collection of books on flowers and plants in his library. He personally supervises and works in his gardens and lawns and feels very close to the nature. When asked about the reason for his extraordinary love of flora and fauna, Bishop Salvadore Lobo said that he strongly believes in the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi which emphasizes on the need to live in harmony with all the creations of God including the flora and fauna. He further said that by working and being close to the nature not only he gets the much needed physical exercise but also happiness and a sense of accomplishment. Besides, the entire area looks beautiful and enhances the elegance of the cathedral and the Bishop’s House.

 

After visiting few important places such as the Minor Seminary, Holy Cross School and Convent and the Social Service Center at Baruipur we returned to Kolkata in the night. In spite of his busy schedule Bishop Salvadore Lobo was kind enough to extend us warm hospitality and we were quite happy to spend some quality time with the Bishop admiring the cathedral and the beautiful flowers and plants in his gardens and lawns.