Preston (UK): More than 12,000 Syro-Malabar Catholics from various parts of the United Kingdom are expected at the episcopal ordination of Mar Joseph Srampickal on October 9 at Preston, England’s 50th city.

On the same day, St Ignatius Church, a Latin rite closed since December 2014 because dwindling faithful, will be reopened as St Alphonsa’s Cathedral for the newly erected Preston diocese of the Oriental Catholic rite from India.

Syro Malabar Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry will lead the episcopal consecration of Mar Srampickal. He will be assisted by Bishops Michael G Campbell of Lancaster and Joseph Kallarangattu of Palai.

Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, numerous Latin-rite bishops in Great Britain, several Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara bishops from India and different parts of the world are also expected at the ceremonies.

On October 8 evening, the bishop-elect took possession of the cathedral at a special function in the presence of the dignitaries. It was followed by “Ramsa” (evening prayer) and “Huthamma” (blessing of the saint’s relic).

The episcopal ordination on October 9 will be held at the Preston North End stadium known as “Deepdale” that can accommodate some 24,000 people. The organizers are expecting 12,000 people from various Syro-Malabar Mass centers across England, Wales and Scotland.

Following this, the cathedral’s officially dedication to St Alphonsa, India’s first woman saint, will take place.

As many as 12 committees comprising priests, religious and lay people from across England, Wales and Scotland, worked together to plan and execute the programs. They were led by Father Thomas Parayadiyil, former national coordinator of Syro-Malabar Church in UK, and Fr Mathew Jacob Choorapoikayil, who is designated as the priest in charge of St Alphonsa Cathedral.

Catholics from various Syro-Malabar Mass centers in the UK will attend a colorful liturgical procession showcasing the ancient Church’s cultural richness will precede the episcopal ordination.

The cathedral is listed as a Grade II (protected for historical importance) monument.

Preston, on the north bank of the River Ribble and some 350 km northwest of London, is an urban settlement. It became England’s 50th city in 2002, the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

Preston with a population of 114,300 derived its name from Old English meaning “priest’s settlement.”

Pope Francis on July 28 erected Preston Syro-Malar eparchy and appointed Father Joseph Srampickal, a priest of Palai diocese in Kerala, as its first prelate.

The bishop-elect was born on August 11, 1967, at Urulikunnam in Palai diocese as the fourth of six children of Late Mr. Mathew and Mrs. Elikutty Srampickal. He had his school education from L.P. School, Valiyakottaram, St. George U.P. School, Urulikunnam, and St. Joseph’s High School, Vilakumadam. He studied Masters in Political Science from St. Thomas College, Palai, and education Mangalore University, Karnataka.

He has also obtained Master’s degree in Oriental Theology from Oxford University, England. He had his theological studies Pontifical Urban Seminary, Rome. He was ordained a priest on August 12, 2000. He knows Italian and German and English, besides Malayalam, his mother tongue.

After his ordination, he taught in the Palai minor seminary and St. Thomas Training College in the same town. He was secretary to Bishop Kallarangattu from 2012 until his appointment as vice rector of the Pontifical Urban College De Propaganda Fide, Rome, on August 31, 2013.

For the past three years, he has assisted in the pastoral ministry for the Syro-Malabar Catholics in Rome. He was among the 1,000 priests Pope Francis chose as “missionaries of mercy” during this Year of Mercy.