Bangalore 20 December 2016: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Allwyn D’Silva, (68) of the Clergy of Bombay, until now Episcopal Vicar and Secretary of the Climate Change Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (F.A.B.C.) as Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay, assigning him the Titular See of Dura. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Tuesday, 20th December, 2016, at noon local time, corresponding to 16:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.
Rev. Fr. Allwyn D’Silva was born in Mumbai on 20th April, 1948. After his schooling, he entered the Seminary in St. Pius X College, Archdiocese of Bombay, where he did his philosophy and theology. He obtained a B.A. in Political and Economic Sciences from Delhi University in 1973, and a M. A. in the same subject from the University of Mumbai in 1978. He was ordained priest on 19th April, 1975 for the Archdiocese of Bombay. He served the Archdiocese in the following assignments: Assistant Priest of St. Anthony’s Church, Vakola (1975-1976); Ministry at National Vocation Centre, Pune (1976-1977); in-charge of Vocations (1977-1986); Assistant Priest and later Parish Priest of St. Jude Church, Jeri-Meri, Mumbai (1986-1994); Dean of South East Salsette Deanery (1991-1994); Priest in-charge of St. Jude Church, Malad East (1994-2000); Priest in-charge of St. Anthony’s Church, Dharavi (2000-2007); Dean of North Mumbai Deanery (2002-2007); Parish Priest of Our Lady of Nazareth Parish, Bhayandar (2007-2011). Since June 2011 he has been Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Church, Thane and since 2012 also Episcopal Vicar. He has been until now member of the Pastoral Council, Priests Council, Commission for Justice and Peace; he is Co-President of Centre for Peace Trust, Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Environment, Director of Prison Ministry India, Mumbai, and Secretary of Climate Change Desk of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (F.A.B.C.). He has taught for over 35 years at St. Pius X College, Mumbai.