Most Rev. Elias Gonsalves - Archbishop of Nagpur.
His motto is: "To reconcile & unite all things in Christ"
Most Rev. Elias Gonsalves, was born on 4 July, 1961, in Chulna Village, Vasai Road, Thane, Maharashtra.
He studied at St. Pius X Seminary, Mumbai. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Bombay on
1 April, 1990.
He was Assistant Parish Priest at Nandakhal, Vasai (1990-1991) and Sandor, Vasai (1991-1997);
Youth Coordinator for South Vasai Deanery (1993-1996); Priest in-charge at Roha (1997-2004);
Priest in-charge at Panvel (2005-2008); Assistant Director and then Director, Centre for Social
Action, Mumbai (2008-2012); Director, Sarvodaya Centre for Capacity Building, Mumbai
(2009-2012).
He was elected Bishop of Amravati on 11 July, 2012 and ordained on 29 September, 2012. After
having served Amravati diocese for six years, Bishop was designated as the Archbishop of
Nagpur on 3rd December 2018 and installed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Nagpur on 27th
January 2019
Under his guidance so far the Archdiocese has already witnessed Diocesan Synod, which brought out
Pastoral Plan, Guidelines, and Policies for the aid of the Priest of the Archdiocese of Nagpur
to do ministry effectively.
Academical Achievements
He has a B. A. in History and Economics, from Bombay University (1982), he did his studies
in Community Based Development and Leadership, from St. Francis Xavier University, Coady
Institute, Canada, and studies in Counselling.
Episcopal Ministry
- 1. He has been Chairman of Catholic Education in Western Region Catholic
Bishop Council. (Maharashtra, Gujrat, Goa)
- 2. He was a main instrument in forming Western Region Catholic Foundation for
Education (WRCFE) as Registered Company under Companies Act 2013, Chairman of WRCFE.
- 3. He is promoter of “Education to Family Values” online programme for Western
Region Catholic Schools.
- 4. He is the WRBC/WRSSF Chair Person.
- 5. He is the CBCI Chairman of Commission for Education and Culture.
- 6. He is the Governing Body Member of the St. John's Medical College, Bangalore.
- 7. He is the Governing Body Member of NEG-FIRE.