Monsignor Thomas Francis D'Souza, who was previously the parish priest of Holy Spirit Church in Nandakhal, has been ordained as the Bishop of Vasai today at St Augustine's High School Ground in Vasai's Stella neighbourhood. 

While the appointment was announced by Pope Francis on November 9, the ordination ceremony held today saw devotees attend in large numbers. The 'Solemn Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Msgr. Thomas Francis D'Souza as the Bishop of Vasai' saw Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and principal consecrator, give D'Souza his blessings. The ceremony also saw Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Daman, and Archbishop Felix Machado, Bishop -Emeritus, Diocese of Vasai, and former bishop, whose retirement, led to the appointment of D'Souza, in attendance as co-consecrators.