Bishop of Satna (Syro-Malabar)
Kochi 22 July 2015: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Kodakallil, of the clergy of Satna, presently Vicar General, as the new Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Satna, Madhya Pradesh. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Wednesday, 22 July 2015, at noon local time, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time. The newly appointed Bishop was born on 18 December 1965 at Pothanikad, in the Eparchy of Kothamangalam, Kerala. Having completed Minor Seminary formation at Deepti Bhavan, Melampara and Kristhu Vidyanikethan, Rewa, and Philosophy at St. Albert’s College, Ranchi and Theology at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, he was ordained priest for the Eparchy of Satna on 31 December 1991. After three years’ ministry as parish priest in Rewa, he took M.Th. from PaurastyaVidyapitham, Vadavathoor and was appointed Rector of the Minor Seminary, Satna and served in that capacity for three years. Having obtained Doctorate in Liturgy from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, he served as Professor at St. Ephrem’s Theological College, Satna. In 2009, he was appointed Vicar General and the Parish Priest of St. Vincent’s Cathedral Satna. At present he is the Rector of the Minor Seminary at Satna.