Bangalore June 6, 2024 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado (76) from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Vasai on June 6, 2024. He was the bishop of Nashik (2008-2009) and Vasai (2009-2024). He was the Secretary General of the CBCI (2020-2024).
Abp. Felix Anthony Machado was born on June 6, 1948, in the parish of Remedy, then Archdiocese of Bombay. After attending St. Thomas High School in Deotalao, he completed his studies in Philosophy at St. Pius X Seminary, Goregaon, Bombay (1966-1969), and in Theology at the Catholic University of Lyon, France (1972 -1976).
During his stay in France in 1973, he entered the Taizé Community, where he lived for nine years. He received priestly ordination on October 30, 1976; initially incardinated in the Archdiocese of Bombay; with the erection of the Diocese of Vasai, in 1998, it passed to the latter.
After priestly ordination he held the positions of parish vicar in St. Francis Xavier Church, Giriz, Vasai (1976-1977), chaplain at Hosftra University in New York, in the United States (1980-1984), professor of dogmatic theology and of World Religions in Pius X College, Mumbai (1985-1993). From 1977 to 1984 he studied in New York, USA, first at the Maryknoll School of Theology, obtaining an M.A. in Theology, and then at Fordham University, obtaining a Doctorate in Theology.
From 2000-2008 he has been Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
He was appointed Bishop of Nashik on 16 January 2008 and ordained Bishop on 8 March 2008. He was transferred to the diocese of Vasai on 10 November 2009. He was elected the Secretary General of the CBCI in 2020 and re-elected in 2022.
Dr. Stephen Alathara