By Matters India Reporter
Bangalore, June 6, 2020: Pope Francis on June 6 accepted the resignation of Salesian Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel of Kuzhithurai in Tamil Nadu.
The Pope has appointed Archbishop Antony Pappusamy of Madurai as Apostolic Administrator of Kuzhithurai, says a press release from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
Bishop Varuvel was the first bishop of the diocese of Kuzhithurai, which was erected on December 22, 2014. He was ordained bishop on February 24, 2015.
CCBI deputy secretary general Father Stephen Alathara told Matters India that Bishop Varuvel resigned before the mandatory retirement age because of health reasons.
He was born on October 21, 1951, at Kallutharai in Kanyakumari district, in the diocese of Kottar. He completed his High School from Carmel School, Nagercoil in 1965 and thereafter did his Pre-University Course at the Scott Christian College in Nagercoil, before joining the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary (1968-1970) at Nagercoil, as a candidate for the diocese of Kottar.
He did his philosophical studies at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai (1970-1973. Thereafter, he did his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Arulanadar College, Karumathur (1973-1976) before joining the Salesian novitiate at Yercaud in 1977. He made his first profession on May 24, 1978.
His theological studies were done at the Salesian Pontifical University (1981-1985). He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1985, by St. John Paul II at the Vatican. After his priestly ordination, he completed his Masters degree in Pedagogy from the Salesina Pontifical University before returning to India.