about us

The Archdiocesan Human Life Committee was instituted by Archbishop Simon Pimenta in the year 1997. In the Examiner of February 8, 1997, he declared, “I am happy to announce the establishment of the Archdiocesan Human Life Committee, a Pro-Life organization in the Archdiocese of Bombay to share the ‘Gospel of Life’, and to promote the ‘Culture of Life’ and oppose the ‘Culture of Death’ in our city. The Director will be Dr. Jeanette Pinto. The Office will be at Archbishop’s House”.

The logo was designed by Errol Fernandes. Symbol mango motif, in green, with a smaller white inverted motif within it. Visually, the logo depicts a pregnant woman and her pre-born child. Green represents fertility. The mango represents both mother and child.

GOALS

The goals of the Archdiocesan Human Life Committee have been...

To create awareness of the beauty and purpose of human sexuality
To promote a value-based approach to sex education.
To collect information and build documentation on all life-related issues.
To promote respect for, and understanding of marriage and family life.

The Archdiocesan Human Life Committee of the Archdiocese of Bombay took its first baby steps under the expert leadership and guidance of His Eminence Ivan Cardinal Dias. One of his passions was upholding human rights, the Rights of the unborn and the Right to live. He was truly a person driven by a keen sense of a pro-life mission.

Cardinal Ivan Dias gave his whole hearted support at the World Congress jointly organised by Human Life International and Archdiocesan Human Life Committee which took place in Bombay, in the year 2000. It not only gave a thrust to the Pro-Life movement in the Archdiocese but also to the country at large, since it challenged the prevalent anti life culture.

He established Pro-life day in the Archdiocese and wrote a prayer to be recited by the Laity on that day. He also blessed the first Memorial to the Unborn Child at St. Andrew’s church in Bandra. Along with other Bishops he also led and participated in the first ever Prolife March in the country.

Over the years, AHLC has been responsible for building ‘Memorials to the Unborn Child’ in nine different parishes and plans are afoot to construct a few more in the near future.

Over the last twenty years, the Archdiocesan Human Life Committee has been conducting and participating in programmes and workshops on the following programmes in the Archdiocese of Bombay, in parishes and schools. Most of our programmes are aimed towards creating awareness about various life issues and the value of marriage and family.

members

Bishop Barthol Barretto

The current ecclesiastical advisor of the Diocesan Human Life Committee

Ninette Lobo

Director, Diocesan Human Life Committee Ninette is a Post graduate in microbiology and worked for Glaxo Laboratories in their research department. She is married with three children and is a stay at home mother.

Fr. Cleophas Fernandes

Fr. Cleophas Fernandes has a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology from the Catholic Institute (University) of Paris and a graduation in Arts (Psychology), Poona University. He completed his seminary studies at St Pius X College and served as its Rector for eight years. In his tenure of over 43 years as a priest, he has been parish priest in a number of parishes, the Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Bombay, member of the International Council for Catechetics organized by the Vatican (serving on the Council for a six-year term), a member of ARMS (Association of Rectors of Major Seminaries) and then elected the President of this association. He has also been Director of the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Centre NBCLC in Bangalore. He is currently the Director of Snehalaya Family Service Centre of the Archdiocese of Bombay.

Dr. Jeanette Pinto

Dr. Jeanette Pinto has a Doctorate in Indo-Portuguese History has been an educator for the past 5 decades. She was Head of the Department of History and Vice Principal of St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, and retired as Principal of Sophia College of Arts and Science. She is a counsellor and conductor of Personal Enrichment Programmes for students and teachers. She is a member of the Church History Association of India, and has presented papers at the Triennial conferences. She is on the Advisory Board of the Heras Institute, St. Xavier’s College Mumbai. She set up the Diocesan Human Life Committee in the Archdiocese of Bombay, and continues to be a member of the Committee. As a sex educator she has given talks on Human Sexuality to thousands of children. She has presented papers at National and International conferences on pro-life issues, and talks at other fora on various women’s issues. She is author of a couple of books; her most recent one is titled: ‘Wonder Women of India.’ She has also written a number of articles on a variety of themes and subjects, which have been published in Research Journals, the Examiner and other Catholic publications.

Rev. Dr. Stephen Fernandes

Rev. Dr. Stephen Fernandes is Professor of Ethics and Moral Theology at St. Pius College, Goregaon, Mumbai from the year 2000 onwards. He completed his Bachelors of Commerce, Masters of Commerce and Bachelor of Education from the University of Bombay. He also completed his Licentiate in Moral Theology (1996) and Doctorate in Moral Theology (2000) from the Accademia Alfonsiana in Roma, Italy. He is the Executive Secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (C.C.B.I.), Commission for Doctrine and Theology (from 2010 onwards). He is the National Ecclesiastical Advisor of the Catholic Nurses Guild of India (from October 2013 onwards). He is also the new Executive Secretary of the Office of Justice, Peace and Development of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) from October 2015. He is a Theological Consultant at eh Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, Mumbai and the Ecclesiastical Advisor of the Catholic Medical Guild of St. Luke, Mumbai (From 2001), He is a member of the University Research Evaluation Committee (UREC), D.Y.

Patil University, Navi Mumbai (November 2014 onwards).He has published articles on Ethical Issues and Issues concerning Justice and Peace and Healthcare. In 2006, he received the John XXI International Award received for a research paper on HIV/AIDS in Barcelona, Spain. In 2008, he received the Justice and Peace Medallion from the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, Vatican City in recognition of outstanding contribution to promotion of Justice and Peace. In 2009, he received the Bombay Catholic Sabha Felicitation Award for outstanding service to society from His Excellency, Shri S.C. Jamir, Governor of Maharashtra. He has presented research papers on Social Ethics, Medical Ethics and issues of Justice and Peace at various conferences, national and international.

Maria L. D’Silva

Ms. Maria L. D’Silva has been with the Prolife Movement of St. Peter’s Parish Bandra since 2004. She did a one year Certificate Course in Healthcare Ethics at the Bio-Medical Ethics Centre, Goregaon East Mumbai in the year 2009-10. She is a Kindergarten teacher by profession.

Fr. Robin Fargose

Fr Robin is originally from Virar (W). He is a B.Com. Graduate and before joining the priesthood, he worked for five years as a Secretary. He is well versed with Marathi, Hindi, English and Konkani.He studied at St. Pius College, Goregaon and is currently an Assistant Parish Priest at Divine Mercy Church, Bhayander East.He is in-charge of Altar Servers, Sunday Catechism, Confirmation, Choir, Youth and his motto is to build the communities.

Dr. Pascoal Carvalho

Dr. Pascoal Carvalho has an M.Sc. in Microbiology, a Ph. D. In Microbiology and a Post Doctorate in Immunology through a WHO Fellowship. He has completed Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training through B.M.G.I. Dr. Pascoal Carvalho is Presently Director, Technical Services at Accurex BioMedical and a Consultant for Diagnostic and Pharma Industry and in Biotechnology Industry for Research in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Biology assays. His past positions held have been Vice-President and Head – Industrial Operations and Quality Management, DiaSys Diagnostics; Head – Diagnostic Business at Piramal Healthcare Limited; Vice-President - Millennium Diagnostics Ltd; Head of Quality Control and R&D at Ortho Diagnostics Systems, a Division of Johnson and Johnson and Director Training - Technical leadership training institute for Blood Bankers and Pathologists, Johnson and Johnson. He is also a Nominee - Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Ministry of Environment and Forests and a Member of the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immuno-haematology. His previous assignments have been Co-guide – IIT for M. Tech students of Bio-Medical Engineering; Faculty member Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Officers training programmes; Examiner – Govt. of Maharashtra for Medical Lab. Technology and member of the Board of Studies for Microbiology, St. Xaviers College. Dr. Pascoal Carvalho is presently a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City, Rome.

Dr Enid Miranda Prabhu

Dr Enid Miranda Prabhu is a wife, mother and a family physician, living and practising in Mahim, Mumbai. She also holds a bachelors degree in Medicine from the University of Mumbai, and a diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Mumbai. In addition she has a diploma in Health Psychology and Counselling from the Xavier’s Institute of Psychology and Counselling, Mumbai. She helps at her church parish clinic once a week and is Medical Officer of Dayanand Hospital run by the Canossian sisters in a Tribal area of Maharashtra. She is a member of the Archdiocesan Human Life Committee where she teaches NFP at the Marriage Preparation Course for Engaged Couples of the archdiocese and gives Talks on Human Sexuality to college students. She is also a Trustee of the Biomedical Ethics Committee of the Archdiocese of Mumbai.

MICHELLE FERNANDES

Michelle Fernandes is a parishioner of St. Michael's Church, Mahim, Mumbai. She is a post graduate in Commerce with a post graduate diploma in Human Resource Management. She was employed at HDFC Bank for over thirteen years before starting her play school and English conversation classes for ladies and children. She is a catechist and develops content for various programmes of the Diocesan Catechetical Centre (Bombay), the Education to Values project of the Western Region Bishop's Council and Snehalaya Family Service Centre.