Antony Kattiparambil ordained as 36th Bishop of Kochi

Father Antony Kattiparambil was ordained as the 36th Bishop of Kochi on Sunday at a solemn ceremony attended by thousands of faithful along with religious and political leaders at Parade Ground in Fort Kochi. The Episcopal Ordination ceremony was led by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, and Patriarch “ad honorem” of the East Indies. He was joined by Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil of Varapuzha archdiocese, and Bishop Emeritus of Kochi Joseph Kariyil as co-consecrators.

Mar Joseph Pamplany, Archbishop of Thalassery, and vicar of the Major Archbishop, Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, read the homily.

Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal Leopoldo Girelli; Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church Raphael Thattil; Archbishop of Trichur and president of CBC Andrews Thazhath; and Archbishop of Calicut and president of KRLCBC Varghese Chakkalakal delivered the benedictory address. The address of Patriarch of Lisbon Rui Manuel Sousa Valério was read out by Fr. David Nanatt.

Around 40 bishops and hundreds from the clergy attended the ceremony. Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, MLAs K.J. Maxy, T.J. Vinod, K. Babu and Daleema Jojo, Mayor M. Anilkumar, MPs Hibi Eden and Jeby Mather and special representative of the Kerala government in New Delhi K.V. Thomas were among those present.

The post of the Bishop of Kochi had been vacant since March 2, 2024, when Bishop Joseph Kariyil resigned after he turned 75, the canonical retirement age for Catholic prelates.