The Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore, President of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC) and President of All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights will be celebrating his 75th Birthday on 10th August, 2016.

On this happy occasion, The Archdiocese of Bangalore has arranged a Thanksgiving Holy Mass at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Bengaluru, at 5.00 p.m. followed by a Felicitation Function. His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio - The Papal Nuncio; the Karnataka Regional Bishops; the Ecclesiastical Dignitaries; hundreds of Priests and Religious and thousands of Lay Faithful (and several Political, Religious and Govt. Leaders) and are expected to participate in it.

Archbishop Bernard Moras has been a priest over 40 years, Bishop of Belgaum for 7 years, and Archbishop of Bangalore for 12 years since 2004. He could implement many projects and achieve several things in Mangalore, Belgaum and Bangalore since he has been blessed with multifarious gifts by God.

During his tenure as Archbishop of Bangalore, the Archdiocesan has seen tremendous growth in spiritual, educational and social fields. Archbishop Bernard takes keen interest in promoting Inter-religious dialogue with other faiths, ecumenical fellowship with other Christian denominations, and true Christian fellowship with people from different walks of life. He has been invited to address many State, National and International Conferences to deliberate on the issues that affect religious sentiments and social order. His Grace has a special love for the underprivileged, the marginalized, the differently abled, the displaced and the migrants in our society, and has been initiating several projects for their empowerment and development.

In times of difficulties and challenges within and outside, he faced all of them very boldly according to the norms of the Church and directives from the higher ecclesiastical authorities. As he is a man of prayer, many problems were solved because of his spiritual power and administrative acumen.
The Archdiocese of Bangalore and the Dioceses in Karnataka are ever grateful to Archbishop Bernard Moras for his spiritual leadership.

A PROFILE OF
MOST REV. DR. BERNARD MORAS
ARCHBISHOP OF BANGALORE AND
PRESIDENT, KARNATAKA REGION CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ COUNCIL (KRCBC)

Born : 10.08.1941
Priestly Ordination : 06.12.1967
Nominated Bishop of Belgaum : 31.12.1996
Episcopal Ordination : 25.02.1997
Appointed Archbishop of Bangalore : 22.07.2004
Installation Archbishop of Bangalore : 17.09.2004

BIO-DATA
Name Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Blasius Moras

Date of Birth 10.08.1941

Place of Birth Kuppe Padavu, South Kanara Dist. (Mangalore Diocese)

Educational
Qualification a) Graduate from Karnataka University.
b) Ecclesiastical Studies in St. Joseph's Seminary
c) D.H.A. (Diploma in Hospital Administration), New Delhi.
d) Diploma in Personnel Management, New Delhi.
e) Diploma in Pastoral Care in Hospitals

Date of Ordination 6.12.1967

Appointed Bishop of
Belgaum 31.12.1996 (Appointed by St. Pope John Paul II)

Date of Episcopal
Ordination 25.2.1997 (By Simon Cardinal Pimenta)

Appointed Archbishop
of Bangalore 22.7.2004 (Appointed by St. Pope John Paul II)

Installation as Archbishop
Of Bangalore 17.9.2004

Received Pallium 29.06.2005 (From Pope Benedict XVI)

Address: Archbishop's House, Post Bag No. 2, No. 75 Miller’s Road,
Bengaluru - 560 046. Karnataka (India)
Tel: (080) 23330438, 23330838, 23339199 (O), Fax: (080) 23531600
E-mail: archbishop@bangalorearchdiocese.com Website: www.bangalorearchdiocese.com

PRESENT POSITIONS
A. Archbishop of Bangalore
B. Member of Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, Rome
C. President of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRCBC)
D. President of Karnataka Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC)
E. Chairman of Catholic Council of Karnataka (CCK)
F. Chairman of Karnataka Regional Pastoral Plan Implementation Committee (KRPPIC)
G. Chairman of Karnataka Regional Educational Commission
H. Chairman of Karnataka Region Religious Council
I. President, All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (AKUCFHR)
J. Chairman of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary & Institute
K. Chancellor of St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute
L. Member of the Standing Committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
M. Chairman Governing Council St. John’s Medical College & St. John’s College of Nursing
N. Member of the Governing Board of St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru

PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITIES HELD IN THE PAST
From May 1968 to June 1970 Asst. Director & Chaplain at St. Anthony's Charitable
Institutions, Jeppu, Mangaluru - 575 002

From July 1970 to Feb 1975 Asst. Director at Fr. Muller's Charitable Institutions
and Hospital, Kankanady, Mangaluru - 575 002

From March 1975 to July 1978 Director - Fr. Muller's Charitable Institutions and
Hospital, Kankanady, Mangaluru - 575 002

From Sept. 1978 to Nov. 1979 Executive Director of Catholic Hospital Association of
India (CHAI), New Delhi.

From Dec. 1979 to May 1980 Parish Priest-in-charge, Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi

From May 1980 to May 1991 Administrator, St. John's Medical College Hospital,
Bengaluru 560 034

From 1981 to 1991 Treasurer, C.B.C.I. Society for Medical Education (St.
John's Medical College & Hospital), Bengaluru 560 034

From June 1991 to Feb. 1997 Director, Fr. Muller's Charitable Institutions and Hospital,
Kankanady. Mangaluru - 575 002

Elected Bishop of Belgaum 31.12.1996

Date of Episcopal Ordination 25.2.1997

Bishop of Belgaum 25th February, 1997 to September 2004

Appointed Archbishop of Bangalore 22.7.2004

Installation as Archbishop 17-09-2004
of Bangalore

Apostolic Administrator of
Diocese of Bellary 21.06.2006 to 15.03.2008

PASTORAL CHARACTERISITCS
• Strong faith and hope in God, and his dependency on God’s providential care.
• Love for Mary, Mother of Jesus, and his trust in her ever powerful intercession. His Coat-of -Arms: "In thee we hope Mary our Mother".
• Great love for the mission and spreading of the Good News.
• Simple lifestyle, hardworking and meticulous Planning.
• Love for the poor, marginalized, downtrodden and the sick.
• Promotion of Faith Formation and Value-Education in the Parishes and in the Archdiocesan Institutions
• Respect for people and his availability for everyone without any discrimination and partiality.
• Administrative expertise, and coordinating capacity.

PASTORAL PRIORITIES
• Pastoral visits to Parishes, especially to rural and sub-urban parishes
• Special attention is given to the uplift of the poor and the marginalized.
• Taking keen interest in the education of the poor;
• Building Faith Formation Groups and Small Christian Communities;
• Establishing/Strengthening Parish Pastoral Councils and Parish Finance Committees, Diocesan Pastoral Councils, etc.;
• Strengthening various Apostolates, such as Family, Laity, Youth, Catechetics, Liturgy, Bible etc.,
• Strengthening various Catholic Associations to build up leadership in the society and in the Church

SPECIAL INITIATIVES
-- Published the Archdiocesan Pastoral Hand Book
-- Established the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
-- Built a multi-storied and well-equipped Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre (Paalanaa Bhavana)
-- Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre - Paalanaa Bhavana for functioning 20 Commissions
-- ASHA Charitable Trust for Children (Sponsorship Education Programme)
-- Jeevan Jyothi Trust for Medical Assistance
-- TABOR Trust – for Archdiocesan TABOR VANI and TABOR KIRANA Archdiocesan
monthly Magazines
-- ABE Manuel Registration of ABE
-- Starting of Schools and Colleges
-- Starting of two new Commissions, namely Commission for Migrants and Commission for
Differently Abled
-- HOSANNA - Sunday Liturgical Leaflet
-- Improved and extended facilities for the Retired Priests
-- Reorganization of all Archdiocesan Offices
-- Established a Minority Commission Office
-- Started God in Control Programmes
-- Initiated Evangelization Programmes

DEVELOPMENT DONE AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL
-- Published Regional Pastoral Plan and updated it periodically
-- Built a Regional Pastoral Centre
-- Printed 60,000 Kannada Bibles
-- Printed 1,0,000 Pocket NT with Psalms
-- Set up Regional Pastoral Centre
-- Founded All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights
--- Encouraged Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Fellowships
-- Initiated Career Advancement Programme (CAP)
-- Promoted CHRISTHA NAMANA Christmas Programme