New Delhi: Pope Francis on June 25 appointed a new bishop to Guntur diocese in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The bishop-elect Bhagyaiah Chinnabathini is a parish priest from Nalgonda diocese in in the neighboring state of Telangana. The 60-yeaer old priest takes over from Bishop Gali Bali, who has retired, Vatican Radio reported.
Fr. Chinnabathini was born on Sept, 19, 1956, at Motakondur-Yadagirigutta Mandal. After attending the minor seminary of Warangal he pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. John’s Regional Seminary inHyderabad, capital of Telangana state. He has a Master’s degree in Literature from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and another Master’s in Education from Annamalai University, Chennai.
He was ordained a priest on May 3, 1983 and since then served Nalgonda diocese and abroad in various capacities. He began as assistant parish priest at St. Mary’s Church, Lingampally (1983-1985); Annunciation Church, Silveru, and Christ the King Church, Jedcherla (1985-1987); Sacred Heart Church, Bhirmaram (1987-1991) and Holy Rosary Church, Kethepally (1991-1994).
Fr. Chinnabathini also served in Germany as chaplain at Herford (1994-1995). Back in his diocese, he became director of the Kolping Centre and was in charge of the Diocesan Youth Centre (1995-2002).
Subsequently he was appointed parish priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kodad (2002-2003); assistant parish priest in a parish in England in (2003-2005); parish priest in a parish Germany (2006-2007); parish priest at St. Mary’s Church, Hannover, Germany (2007-2011).
Since 2011, Fr. Chinnabathini has been parish priest at the Infant Jesus Shrine of Miryalaguda, Nalgonda diocese.
Guntur diocese is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.