By Raymond Joseph Irudhayasamy
Jalandhar, March 7, 2019: Father Michael Ani (65) was elected as the president of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI).
The election was held during seventieth national meeting of the CDPI held at Gianodaya, Pastoral Centre, Jalandhar, from 26 February to 1 March.
Father Ani is a priest from the diocese of Jalandhar. He was born on 17 September, 1954, Idukki, Kerala and ordained priest on 7 April, 1983.
Presently he is the coordinator of the Jalandhar diocesan commissions; rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral Jalandhar Cantonment; member of diocesan curia; member of diocesan college of consulters; secretary, regional commission for proclamation and Pontifical Mission Society; secretary to the diocesan commission for clergy, religious and seminaries and vocations; coordinator of diocesan pastoral council; member of presbyterial council; professor of church history at Holy Trinity regional major seminary; president of CDPI Jalandhar and president of CDPI northern region.
The meeting discussed the theme: “redefining the pastoral ministry of the diocesan priests in the socially, economically, culturally and politically challenged scenario in India”.
The meeting also elected Fr. Philomin Doss from the archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore as Vice President and Father Dileep Marandi from the diocese of Jamshedpur as treasurer. Father I. Raymond Joseph, the executive secretary to the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious is the ex-officio the Secretary to the CDPI.
The CDPI is the association of the diocesan priests of India works under the guidance and direction of the Conference of Catholic Bishops’ of India (CCBI).
The main purpose of the CDPI is to help diocesan priests in the country to foster a deeper understanding of their priesthood, whereby they will appreciate and perform their priestly ministry in a more effective way.