By Matters India Reporter
Kochi, May 11, 2024: Pope Francis has appointed Father Antony Valunkal as the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Verapoly in Kerala.
The 54-year-old bishop-elect is currently the rector and parish priest of the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadam, Kochi, says a press release from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India May 11.
He was born on July 26, 1969, in Eroor, in the Archdiocese of Verapoly. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Alwaye, Kerala.
He was ordained a priest on April 11, 1994 for Verapoly archdiocese.
He started his priestly duty as the deputy parish priest of Little Flower in Pottakuzhy in 1994. After two years, he was appointed the director of the Archdiocesan Minor Seminary, a post he held for seven years. In 2004, he was appointed theparish priest of St George in Karthedom.
Three years later in 2007, he became the director of St John Paul Bhavan Minor Seminary in Kakkanad. He studied licentiate and doctorate in Spiritual Theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute in Bangalore, India and served as the spiritual director of St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye.
He was in charge of churches in Chowara and Parapuram of Thottakattukara Parish for eight years until 2013 when he was appointed the Vallarpadam parish.
He came to the Vallapadom shrine in 2021.