Bishop Gilbert Blaize B. Rego

From a wonderful shot as a left-outer in hockey and football to a bishop- this is the unusual record of the Very Rev. Gilbert Rego, who was recently consecrated Bishop of Chandigarh-Simla.

Born in 1922, Bishop Rego finished his schooling in St. Mary's High School in 1941 and joined St. Xavier's College for Science. But he preferred the hockey stick and football to chemical solutions, frogs, and pulleys and established himself as the favourite sportsman of the College. He joined the Seminary in 1946 and was ordained priest in 1953. After a series of appointments he went to Canada and studied Agricultural Co-operation farming and later took his Master's degree in Sociology from the Catholic University, Washington. On his return, he threw himself into works of charity and became Director of Caritas.

Gilly, as the new Bishop is popularly known, was a great sportsman, who played because it was fun to play. Genial and affable, a hard worker and completely devoid of pomp, the new bishop will indeed prove a splendid prelate.

Source: St. Xavier's College Magazine, Mumbai (1972)