Lay person elected to head Catholic press body

The association enjoys CBCI’s patronage and has representation in international media organizations.

Ignatius Gonsalves

Jharsuguda:  Indian Catholic Press Association has elected lay leader and senior journalist Ignatius Gonsalves to head the nation-wide body, a rare feat in its 55-year-old history.

Gonsalves, a Church history expert, was unanimously elected president at the association’s general body meeting in Jharsuguda near Kandhamal in Odisha, a release said.

The senior journalist earlier worked with Malayala Manorama and now defunct Kerala Times daily.

He becomes the second lay person to lead the association after Dr. Michael Gonslaves of Pune was elected to lead the association in 2004. Until then only priests had headed the association established in 1963.

Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew, editor of New Delhi-based Indian Currents magazine, has been elected the new general secretary of the association.

Divine Word Father Sunil Damor was elected vice-president and the new treasurer is Pauline Father Joby Mathew, former editor of Mumbai-based The Teenager Today magazine. Holy Spirit Sister Tessy Jacob is the new joint secretary.

Other executive members are Father Valerian Fernandes of Mangaluru, Roman Bhatia of Surat and Sebastian Kallarackal of Kerala.

The association enjoys CBCI’s patronage and has representation in international media organizations.

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