Diocese of Lucknow Celebrates Silver Jubilee of Bishop Gerald John Mathias and Fr. Paul Correa

Lucknow, 28 February 2025 – The Diocese of Lucknow marked the Episcopal and Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of Rt. Rev. Bishop Gerald John Mathias and Rev. Fr. Paul Correa with a solemn Thanksgiving Eucharist and Felicitation Programme. The event took place on 26 February at St. Francis’ College, Lucknow, and was live-streamed by the Media Cell of the Diocese, allowing those unable to attend in person to witness the celebrations.

The Pontifical High Mass featured a harmonious choir and was presided over by Bishop Gerald John Mathias and concelebrated by Anthony Cardinal Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, along with three Archbishops and eighteen Bishops from both the Latin Catholic and Syro Malabar Catholic Rites. The Archbishops present included Archbishop Raphy Manjaly of the Archdiocese of Agra, Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto of the Archdiocese of Delhi, and Archbishop Elias Joseph Gonsalves of the Archdiocese of Nagpur. Archbishop Manjaly delivered a homily reflecting on the various roles of the clergy, while Cardinal Poola and Archbishop Couto shared personal anecdotes about the jubilarians.

Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, extended a heartfelt congratulatory message to Bishop Mathias and Fr. Correa. The celebration also embraced interfaith unity, with the presence of political leaders, including former Acting Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Ammar Rizvi, and former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Dinesh Sharma. Religious leaders from different faiths participated by offering blessings in their respective traditions.

Bishop Gerald John Mathias expressed gratitude in his thanksgiving address, fondly remembering his predecessors from the Simla-Chandigarh and Lucknow Ecclesiastical Provinces. The event featured melodious Jubilee songs performed by priests of the diocese, along with cultural performances.

Catholics from Lucknow and beyond, though physically distant, joined in spirit through the live stream, praying for continued divine blessings upon the ministries of Bishop Mathias and Fr. Correa.

By Fr. Dominic Pinto