New Delhi: Pope Francis on Monday appointed Fr. Thomas Paulsamy as the new bishop of Dindigul, in the southern Tamil Nadu state.
The diocese was without a bishop after the transfer of Bishop Antony Pappusamy as Archbishop of Madurai in Aug. 2014.
Currently, he is the parish priest of St. Anthony’s Church a Kallukuzhy, Vatican Radio reported.
Fr. Paulsamy was born Aug. 2, 1951, at N. Poolampatty, in Tiruchirapalli diocese. After his schooling in his native village he studied philosophy and theology at St. Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirapalli. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1977 for Tiruchirapalli diocese, which then was part of Dindigul Diocese.
He was the vicar general of Tiruchirapalli diocese for eight years from 2007. He has nearly four decades of experience as a parish priest.
Following his ordination he held the following responsibilities:
1977-1979: Parish priest, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Melapudur, Tiruchirapalli Diocese
1979-1980: Assistant parish priest, Seven Dolours Church in Palaiyakoil, Tiruchirapalli Diocese
1980-1985: Parish priest, St. Aloysius’s Church in Kosavapatty, Dindigul Diocese
1985-1986: Parish priest, Church of St. Joseph the Worker in Kailasapuram, Tiruchirapalli Diocese
1986-1992: Parish priest and vicar forane, St. Joseph’s Church in Dindigul Diocese
1992-1993: Sabbatical and study – Maryknoll School of Theology, New York, USA
1993-1995: Parish priest, St. Francis Xavier Church in Malayadipatti, Tiruchirapalli Diocese
1995-2001: Parish priest, Holy Redeemer’s Basilica in Palakarai, Tiruchirapalli Diocese
2002-2004: Parish priest, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Melapudur, Tiruchirapalli Diocese
2004-2005: Parish priest, Our Lady of Dolours Church in Nanjur, Pudukottai;
2005-2007: Parish priest, Our Lady of Fatima Church in Fathimanagar, Tiruchirapalli Diocese