Faisalabad; November 26, 2013. (Fr. Inayat Bernard) 1st November 2013: “Our Hearts are filled when we get together on 1st November for your Bishop Joseph Arshad”. These were the opening remarks of Cardinal Fernando Filoni on the occasion of the consecration of Msgr. Joseph Arshad as the 5th Bishop of Faisalabad in the La Salle High School ground, Faisalabad. In the beginning of his homily he referred to the saints wearing white robes in the presence of the Lord and he said the saints have led an ideal life going through lot of persecution and living their lives in fidelity to the Lord. He said that in the context of persecution the sacrifice of late catholic federal minister Shahbaz Bhatti cannot be forgotten who struggled for the human rights of the minorities in Pakistan. In the context of Pakistan he said that the presence of Christians in Pakistan is like salt of the earth and light to the world. He asked the faithful to stand firm in their faith in view of problems and difficulties which they face every day. Pointing towards the new Bishop of Faisalabad, he said that the Holy Father has shown his confidence in the new bishop and appointed him to be a shepherd to his people as being the son of the soil. He asked the clergy, religious and the faithful to show their cooperation towards the new bishop to continue to establish the kingdom of God in our midst. He said that it is a day to talk about the spirituality of the Episcopal pastoral service. He said that in all these years Msgr Joseph Arshsd has shown his fidelity while serving in different nunciatures and he has got the fullness of priesthood of Jesus Christa as the Shepherd and priest. He is asked to work to sanctify the people, work for their nourishment through teaching and forming them into the people of God. The sheep, he said, cannot be without the shepherd and it will depend on the new bishop how to dispense his talents for unity. He stressed the dialogue among the priests and other religions not by force but by convincing them in a fraternal atmosphere. He asked all to be loyal to him and show their collaboration to make this diocese a masterpiece for the others. At the end of Episcopal Consecration ceremony, he addressed to Bishop Arshad, “I entrust them in your care. May the Blessed Mother Mary, St. Peter and Paul and the saints be with you in difficulties and they will not leave you alone”. Former Faisalabad bishop Joseph Coutts and present Archbishop of Karachi said that some thirty years ago in 1983 the then Bishop of Faisalabad John Joseph had invited Fr. Joseph Coutts when he was the rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary to play a friendly cricket match with the Faisalabad team. The students of the seminary won the match and Joseph Arshad was one of the bowlers and batsmen here in the same ground where his consecration is taking place today. Archbishop Coutts said that he won the match because of the good team spirit. That day he had a bat in his hands and now he has a staff in his hand. He said that he served the Faisalabad diocese from 1998 to 2011. He advised new Bishop to develop a good team spirit in his new diocese entrusted to him. Apostolic Administrator of Faisalabad and Bishop of Rawalpindi-Islamabad diocese Rufin Anthony said that the diocese of Faisalabad has gone through four phase of its history. In the first phase it was part of Lahore diocese. The second phase was from partition from Lahore and erection of Multan diocese. The third phase was the creation of Faisalabad diocese in 1960 and the fourth phase was when in 1981 the first local bishop John Joseph replaced Italian Dominican Bishop Paul Andreotti. He said that the American and Italian Dominican Fathers and sisters have toiled in the diocese and we thank and remember their services. He said that the priests, religious and laity have to be the witness and work together so that we may become Missionary, Marian and be in sound communion. The newly consecrated Bishop of Faisalabad Joseph Arshad said that he chose 1st November as it was the day of his Priestly Ordination as well. He said though unworthy I accepted the responsibility to be the Bishop of Faisalabad. He thanked Cardinal Filoni, the Papal nuncio, the diplomatic cor, the civil and religious authorities. He thanked the 7 catholic and one protestant Bishops, priests, sisters, brothers, catechists and the faithful and asked them to pray for him and he assured his cooperation towards them. He said that he pledges his obedience to the successor of St. Peter Pope Francis I. He made a special thanks to Bishop Rufin Anthony, who took care of the diocese from last two years. He said that his court of arms is PEACE AND HOPE. They are needed in our world. Peace can make others at peace and my hope is your support and of Jesus Christ and we can move forward filled with the Holy Spirit. He ended by saying that the diocesan priests of Faisalabad diocese have given him the wooden staff as the gift and, “I will do my best to use this staff to keep them together doing my responsibility”. The 4 hours ceremony went on smoothly and solemnly. All guests shared in the special meal assigned at different places in the La Salle compound. The cooperation of priests, religious, seminarians, catechists and faithful was appreciable. Fr. Dr. Pervez Emmanuel was the commentator on this auspicious occasion while the readings were read by newly ordained bishops’ relatives. Bishops Joseph Arshad’s parents were present and interesting to note that his father George Bashir was the among the very first seminarians at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary of Lahore in the early 1950s.