Bangalore 16 May 2021 (CCBI): Fr. Baptist Pais, S.V.D. (61) from the India-Mumbai Province of the Society of Divine Word was appointed as the Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism. The appointment was made by the CCBI Executive Committee in its virtual meeting held from 14 to 15 May 2021.
He was the former Ecumenism Commission Secretary of the Diocese of Mysore, from 2014 to 2017. He was the consultative body member of the CCBI Commission for Ecumenism. He is well known Christian devotional song singer and sung more than 100 devotional songs in Hindi and Konkani. He is the recipient of the Konkani Sahitya Academy Award for his contribution to Konkani culture and language in 2011.
He was born on 23 June 1959 at Allipade, Malekodi in Dakshina Kannada district of Mangalore diocese, Karnataka. After his schooling he joined S.V.D. Congregation on 1 June 1972 and made his final profession in 1987. He did his philosophy and theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeetham, Pune. He was ordained priest on 25 April 1988.
After his ordination he served as Assistant Parish Priest, St. John’s Church, Ramachandrapuram, Andhra Pradesh from1988 to 1989; Assistant Parish Priest St. Theresa’s Church, Bandra, Mumbai from1989 to1990; Rector St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Kirem, Mangalore from 1990 to1999; Treasurer at Gyan Ashram, Andheri East, Mumbai from 1999 to 2002; Parish Priest, St. Theresa’s Church, Bandra, Mumbai from 2002 to 2008; Parish Priest, Sacred Heart Church, Andheri East, Mumbai from 2008 to 2014; Rector at Vidyaniketan, Mysore from 2014 to 2017 and Vice Rector, Divine Word Seminary, Pune from 2017 to 2020.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI