Bishop of Guntur
Fr. Chinnabathini priest was born on Sept, 19, 1956, at Motakondur-Yadagirigutta Mandal. After attending the minor seminary of Warangal he pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. John’s Regional Seminary di Hyderabad. He has a Master’s degree in Literature from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and another Master’s in Education from Annamalai University, Chennai. Following his priestly ordination on May 3, 1983, he served Nalgonda Diocese and abroad in various capacities, such as assistant parish priest at St. Mary’s Church, Lingampally (1983-1985); Annunciation Church, Silveru, and Christ the King Church, Jedcherla (1985-1987); Sacred Heart Church, Bhirmaram (1987-1991) and Holy Rosary Church, Kethepally (1991-1994). Fr. Chinnabathini also served in Germany as chaplain at Herford (1994-1995). Back in his diocese, he became director of the Kolping Centre and was in charge of the Diocesan Youth Centre. (1995-2002). Subsequently he was appointed parish priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kodad (2002-2003); assistant parish priest in a parish in England in (2003-2005); parish priest in a parish Germany (2006-2007); parish priest at St. Mary’s Church, Hannover, Germany (2007-2011). Since 2011, Fr. Chinnabathini has been parish priest at the Infant Jesus Shrine di Miryalaguda, Diocesi di Nalgonda. Guntur Diocese, which Fr. Chinnabathini will be heading soon, is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.