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The
New Eparchy of Mavelikara, Kerala inaugurated and Bishop Joshua Mar
Ignathios installed its first Bishop on 16 February, 2007.
Pope Benedict XVI had given his assent to the decision of the Synod
of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church for the creation of the new
Eparchy of Mavelikara and the election of Joshua Mar Ignathios as
its first Bishop. This new Eparchy was created by bifurcating the
Archieparchy of Trivandrum. The announcement of the creation of the
new Eparchy was done on 2 January, 2007.
Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, was born on 24 May, 1950 at Kizhakketheruvu, Kottarakara, Kerala. After his Seminary education
at St. Aloysius Seminary, Pattom and at St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichy,
he was ordained priest on 20th April 1978. Besides B.Th. at Urbaniana University, Rome, he gained his Master’s degree in
History, M.Ed and Ph.D. in Education Administration. He served as
Assistant Parish Priest at Kirathoor (Marthandom Diocese) and for
fourteen years (1982-96) he was Parish Priest of St. Thomas
Malankara Catholic Church, Padi, Chennai, during which period he was
also Principal of the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Chennai.
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On 10 March,
1997, he was appointed Corepiscopo and on 15 April, 1998,
Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum. From 1996 onwards he was Chief Vicar
General of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum and from December
2001-2005 he held the office of Secretary of Kerala Catholic
Bishops’ Council (KCBC).
At present, Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios is the Chairman of the
Labour Commission (CBCI), Patron of All India Christian Council as
well as Chairman of All India Christian Council (Kerala Region). He
is also Chairman of the Synodal Commissions for Social Apostolate,
Education, Communication, Health and Dalit Christians in Malankara
Catholic Church and Chairman of KCBC Commission for Temperance
Movement (Madyavirudha Samithy).
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