CCBI Laity Commission Secretary Rev. Dr. Joseph Coracao De Jesus Dias, SVD (58) from the India East Province (Odisha) of Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) passed away on Saturday 26 March 2016 after a massive heart attack. The funeral will be conducted on Thursday 31 March 2016 at Sandhi Sadan Provincial House, Jharsuguda, Odisha. He was serving Conference of Catholic Bishops of India from 1 June 2015. Fr. Joseph Dias was born on 8 January 1958 in Goa, joined SVD Congregation and ordained priest on 1 May 1989. He holds a Master’s Degree in Missiology and Doctorate in Theology.
He served Sambalpur diocese as the Director of Small Christian Communities and Regional Director of Odisha. He is a visiting professor of Missiology in various Ecclesial Universities in India and abroad. He speaks English, Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, Odia, Sadri and Telugu. For last more than twenty years he is actively involved in the lay apostolate.