By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, Jan 15, 2022: The Syro-Malabar Church on January 15 appointed new prelates for its Tellicherry archdiocese and Palghat diocese.

The Oriental Catholic Church’s bishops’ synod promoted, with the papal approval, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry as the archdiocese’s new prelate. He replaces Archbishop George Njaralakatt, who has retired.

Similarly, the synod has appointed Palghat Auxiliary Bishop Peter Kochupurackal as the diocese’s new bishop. He replaces Bishop Jacob Manathodath, who too has retired.

The synod met early January at Mount St. Thomas, the Church’s headquarters in Kerala.

Archbishop-elect Pamplany was born December 11, 1969, at Charal in the archdiocese of Tellicherry. After school studies, he joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Tellicherry in 1986. He did his philosophical and theological studies at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye. He was ordained a priest on December 30, 1997.

He served as assistant parish priest at Peravoor (1998-1999) and was parish priest at Deepagiri (1999-2001). He then went to Belgium for studies and obtained doctorate in Sacred Scripture from Leuven University. On his return, he was appointed director of Bible Apostolate in the archdiocese in 2006. He founded the Alpha Institute of Theology and served as its first director during 2007-2017. He was elected Auxiliary Bishop of Tellicherry on September 1, 2017, and ordained Bishop of November 28, the same year.

Bishop Peter Kochupurackal was born May 29, 1964, at Marangoly in the diocese of Palai. He joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Kallepully, Palghat in 1981. He had his studies of Philosophy and Theology at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. He was ordained a priest on December 19, 1990. He studied at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore. His licentiate and doctoral studies were in Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome (2000-2007).

At present he is the judicial vicar of Eparchial Tribunal, diocesan chancellor, and Syncellus for seminarians and consecrated persons. He was elected Auxiliary Bishop of Palghat on January 15, 2020, and ordained bishop June 18, 2020.