Bishop Valerian D’Souza’s sermons on Facebook

Home  >>  Latest News  >>  Detail News
Emeritus Bishop Valerian D’Souza’s sermons on Facebook a hit online http://www.sakaaltimes.com/20120717/5030742391848188986.htm CAMIL PARKHE Tuesday, July 17, 2012 AT 10:44 AM (IST) Tags: bishop,   Valerian D'Souza,   facebook,   social networking,   Pune,   Camil Parkhe 79-year-old prelate has 1,775 friends on Facebook. His spiritual reflections are getting much love in cyberspace PUNE: Emeritus Bishop Valerian D'Souza who administered the Pune diocese for 31 long years has begun posting sermons on Facebook. The 79-year-old prelate has as many 1,775 friends on Facebook and is receiving many hits to his posts from youngsters across the globe. The Emeritus Bishop who is also known as the singing Bishop for his penchant for playing the guitar during his preachings opened his Facebook account in March 2010. However, he began posting his spiritual reflections and short sermons on the networking site only a few months back. “I have won over 1,775 friends on Facebook and the list is increasing rapidly. Every day, I get at least 10 requests for confirmation as friends ,” the Emeritus Bishop told Sakal Times on Monday. The net savvy Bishop was busy working on his laptop at the Viannny Home, the home for retired clergy in the Bishop's House complex on Empress garden road, when this correspondent paid him a visit on Monday afternoon. As the former Bishop of Pune, Rt Rev D'Souza has been a much sought after speaker at religious discourses in India and abroad. He has published three collections of his sermons. Until a few years ago, some cable networks used to telecast video CDs of his preachings, especially during the Holy Week comprising Good Friday and Easter. In his Facebook profile, D'Souza, an alumnus of the St Vincent's High School and the Nowrosjee Wadia College said, “Now in retirement, but busier than before. Slowly changing into a lower gear, with more time to myself.” Besides posting his sermons and spiritual advices on Facebook, the retired Bishop also uploads and tags pictures, shares links and greets and blesses people on their birthdays and anniversaries.