By Amal Sabu
Kochi: Pope Francis on January 14 appointed Father Thomas Tharayil as the auxiliary bishop of Changanacherry archdiocese.
This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on January 14 at noon in Rome, corresponding to 16:30 in India.
The 45-year-old priest is currently the director of Danalaya, a formation house in Punnapra, Puthussery, near Alleppey, Kerala.
He was ordained a priest on January 1, 2000. He has a doctorate in moral theology. He hails from the cathedral parish of Changanacherry.
The bishop-elect did his schooling at Changanacherry and higher studies at St Bachmann’s College, Changanacherry.
He started his priestly formation at St. Thomas Minor Seminary, Kurichy, and philosophical and theological studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor.
After ordination, he was secretary to Archbishop Joseph Powathil of Changanacherry. He has a doctorate in Psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He has served as vicar at Athirampuzha, Nedumkunnam and Edathua and as vicar administrator at Thazhathu Vadakara.
He has taught at various major seminaries and institutes and written a few books on psychology. He is proficient in German, Italian and Spanish, besides Malayalam and English.