Bishop Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti

Bishop Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, SMM was born on 8 th March 1952 in Peddautapally, in the Diocese of Vijayawada. After studying BA at the Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada, he joined the Minor Seminary of St. Ambrose, Nuzvid. He then studied philosophy at St. Peter’s Papal Seminary in Bangalore, as a novice of the Society of Mary – Montfort Missionaries (SMM), and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Later, he obtained a licentiate in Biblical Theology at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, and a doctorate in Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He made his solemn profession in the Society of Mary of the PP. Montfort on 31 January 1980. He was He was ordained a priest on on 7 June 1980. 2011-2015: Attorney General and Postulator of the Congregation of the PP. Montfort, in Rome. 2015: Provincial of the Montfort Missionaries in Bangalore. Pope Francis appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Raja as Bishop of the diocese of Vijayawada.