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New bishop for Pala diocese

By Our Staff Reporter

PALA, MAY 2. Mar Joseph Kallarangatt has been ordained the third Bishop of the Syro-Malabar diocese of Pala. He assumes charge on superannuation of Bishop Joseph Pallickaparambil.

Thousands of believers including priests, nuns and spiritual leaders from sister churches participated in the Episcopal ordination ceremony, held at a specially constructed dais at the grounds of St. Thomas church here. The ceremonies commenced with the procession bringing the bishop-designate and the celebrants to the college grounds. This was followed by introductory message by the outgoing Bishop Mar Pallickaparambil.

Following the reading of the Papal bull by the chancellor of the diocese, the ordination ceremonies commenced with the Archbishop of Changanassery, Joseph Powathil, as the principal celebrant.

Bishop Pallickaparambil and Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy of Thrissur archdiocese assisted him as co-celebrants. On the completion of the first phase of the ordination, Bishop Kunnacherry preached the homily.

This was followed by the celebration of the Holy Qurbana with the newly-ordained Bishop as the principal celebrant. The Archbishops, Joseph Powathil, Jacob Thoomkuzhy and George Valiamattom, assisted him. Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, officiated at the ceremony denoting the formal enthronement of the new shepherd.

The newly-ordained bishop was felicitated at a public meeting at the college grounds later.

Bishop Kallarangatt is the third bishop of the Pala diocese which was formed in 1950, dividing the Changanassery archdiocese. The first bishop of the newly-formed diocese was Mar Sebastian Vayalil who was succeeded by Bishop Pallickaparambil in 1981.

Mar Kallarangatt has been functioning as the president of the Pourasthya Vidya Peedom, the theological seminary of the Syro-Malabar church, and is considered an authority in oriental theology.

The 48-year-old bishop joined the spiritual vocation at the age of 28 and had his higher studies at Gregorian University in Rome. Pala diocese, though considered comparatively small and has only half a century of independent history, holds a special place in the affairs of the church.

It is considered a `mother diocese' since it was the migration of the people belonging to this area which has resulted in the formation of many other dioceses.

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