ARCHBISHOP VINCENT MICHAEL CONCESSAO : A Profile

Born : Sep. 28,1936 | Priestly Ordn.: Dec. 04, 1961 |Episcopal Ordn.: Apr. 01, 1995

Born in the diocese of Mangalore in 1936, Archbishop Vincent Michael Concessao completed his schooling and seminary studies there and after ordination in 1961 came to Delhi in 1962. After working as Assistant at the Sacred Heart Cathedral New Delhi, he was sent to Loyola University, Chicago for post-graduate studies in Sociology. Having completed his studies there and also having participated in a summer course on Development Studies at the Coady International Institute he returned to Delhi.

In 1970 he was appointed Diocesan Director of Social Action. He set up the organization, now called Chetanalaya and took up various projects for relief in times of disasters like floods, rehabilitation of the displaced persons and development of the poor, focusing particularly on the slum dwellers rehabilitated in the Resettlement Colonies in Delhi.

During this period he was also the Parish Priest in Madangir for six years, thereafter Rector of Pratiksha, residence for theology students and Leader of the Team to set up a new mission in Rohtak and President of the Catholic Priests Conference of India.

In 1991 he was transferred as the Parish Priest of the Cathedral until he was elected Vicar General when Archbishop Alan de Lastic took over as Archbishop of Delhi. In 1995 he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi and in 1998 transferred to Agra as the Archbishop there. On the passing away of Archbishop Alan de Lastic he was appointed Archbishop of Delhi in the year 2000.

At present he is –
Vice President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI)
President of the National United Christian Forum
President of the Regional Bishop’s Conference of the Northern Region
President of the Holy Family Hospital
Chairman of the Regional Commission for Justice & Peace, SC/ST/OBC
Chairman of the Northern Regional Forum for Social Communications
Member of the National Monitoring Committee for Minorities’ Education.
Member of the National Integration Council, Government of India

He is very much involved in organizations committed to social development and inter-faith dialogue.