Msgr. Fr John Carvalho Ordained as Bishop of Ajmer

Ajmer, 11 May, 2025 - Fr. John Carvalho was ordained as the seventh Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ajmer on Sunday, 11 May 2025, at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Church, Ajmer, in Rajasthan.

The ceremony was graced by His Excellency Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal. During the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Stephen Fernandez read the Papal Bull of Pope Francis appointing Msgr. John Carvalho as the Bishop of Ajmer Diocese.

Archbishop Raphy Manjaly of the Archdiocese of Agra, along with Bishop Oswald Lewis, Apostolic Administrator, and Bishop Joseph Kallarackal, officiated the ordination of John Carvalho. A large number of bishops, priests, religious, and laity, along with his mother and family members, witnessed the solemn Episcopal Ordination and Installation ceremony.

During the homily, quoting the Prophet Jeremiah, Archbishop Raphy Manjaly stated, “In our times too, God provides us shepherds after His own heart. He called Hentri F. Caumont, a French Capuchin, to establish the Diocese of Ajmer in 1913. And today, He calls Bishop John Carvalho to lead the flock after His own heart.”

Bishop Carvalho’s appointment follows the resignation of Bishop Pius Thomas D'Souza due to health reasons in June 2024. During the interim period, Bishop Oswald Lewis, Emeritus Bishop of Jaipur, served as the Apostolic Administrator.

Fifty-five-year-old John Carvalho, a native of Udupi, Karnataka, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ajmer on 13 May 1996. A graduate in Education and a postgraduate in Social Work, he has served the diocese in various capacities – as Parish Priest, Manager of Schools, Director of Social Service, Secretary for the Education Commission, and Principal of several prestigious schools. At the time of his appointment as Bishop by Pope Francis on 1 March 2025, Fr John Carvalho was serving as the Principal of St. Paul’s Senior Secondary School, Ajmer.

The Catholic Diocese of Ajmer, established in 1913, has a long-standing legacy of selfless service to the people of Rajasthan through ministries in education, healthcare, and social work. The diocese covers an extensive geographical area comprising numerous districts in north-western Rajasthan.

By PJ Joseph