Changanacherry: Father Thomas Tharayil has been ordained auxiliary bishop of the Syro-Malabar archdiocese of Changanassery at a special ceremony at St. Mary’s Metropolitan Church here on April 23.

Archbishop Joseph Perumthottam of Changanassery was the principal celebrant at the ordination ceremony which began by 2:15 p.m. Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Powathil of Changanassery and Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Pala were the co-celebrants.

Hundreds of believers participated in the ceremony.

Archbishop M. Soosa Pakiam, chairman of the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC) and head of the Latin archdiocese of Trivandrum, delivered the benediction. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and head of the Syro Malankara Church, and Archbishop Kuriakose Mar Saverios, head of the Knanaya Syrian Church spoke.

Fr. Tom Puthenkalam, chancellor of the archdiocese, read out the message from Cardinal George Alencherry appointing Tharayil as the auxiliary bishop of Changanassery archdiocese.

Born on February 2, 1972, at Changanassery, Thomas (Tomy) Tharayil had his school education locally. His theological studies began at the Minor Seminary, Kurichy, and later at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathur.

He was ordained priest on January 1, 2000. Presently a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Mar Tharayil has earned a name as retreat preacher and psychologist. A polyglot, he is proficient in English, Italian, Spanish, and German.

Rev Thomas Tharayil was elected auxiliary bishop at the week-long Syro Malabar Synod held at St. Thomas Mount at Kakkanad from January 9, 2017.

The Changanassery vicariate was formed in 1887 and elevated as an archdiocese in 1956.

It is among the largest archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala with its administrative jurisdiction extending from Ettumanur to Parassala.