New Delhi : Pope Francis Wednesday appointed Father Joseph Kodakallil as the new bishop of Satna Syro-Malabar diocese.
This was announced at Vatican, the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kakkanad, Kerala and the Bishop’s House in Satna. After the announcement, George Cardinal Alencherry presented the bishop-elect a Pectoral Cross and Ring.
The diocese has been without a bishop since August 27, 2014 when its second perlate Bishop Mathew Vaniakizhakkel stepped down, citing health reasons.
Father Kodakallil is currently the vicar general and the rector of the minor seminary of the diocese. He is a priest of Satna diocese.
The Bishop-elect was born on Decemeber 18, 1965, in Pothanikkadu, Kothamangalam, Kerala.
He joined the minor seminary in Satna and did his philosophy at St. Albert’s College, Ranchi and theology at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor.
He was ordained a priest on December 31, 1991. Later he pursued his studies in Rome and earned a doctorate in liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute.
Father Kodakallil has served as parish priest of Rewa and Vadavathoor, rector of St. Thomas minor seminary in Satna, professor and vice-rector of St. Ephrem’s Theological College in Satna and vicar general of the diocese.
He speaks and writes English, Hindi, Malayalam and Italian.
The diocese, created in 1977, has 9 parishes, 10 mission stations, 33 educational institutions, 6 dispensaries and two hospitals. The diocese has 58 diocesan priests, 21 religious priests, 149 nuns and two relgious missionary brothers serving in it.