Resignation of bishop of the eparchy of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars, India, and appointment of successor

The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars, India, presented by H.E. Msgr. Anthony Chirayath.

The Pope has appointed as bishop of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars, India, Rev. Fr. James Athikalam, M.S.T., currently cirector of the Nirmal Jyothi Mental Health Program of Bhopal.

Rev. Fr. James Athikalam, M.S.T.

The Rev. Fr. James Athikalam, M.S.T., was born on 5 July 1958 in Pulinkunnu, in the then-eparchy of Changanacherry. After following the institutional course at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamalee, and at St. Joseph’s, Bangalore, he was ordained a priest on 22 March 1984. He obtained a licentiate in sacred scripture from the Franciscan Biblical Institute in Jerusalem, the Master’s degree in literature at the University of Mysore and the doctorate in patristic theology at the Augustinianum Institute in Rome. He has a good knowledge of Malayalam, English, Hindi, Latin, Greek, Syriac, Italian, French and German.

He has held the following offices: professor and counsellor of the minor seminary in Ujjain, professor at the MST minor seminary, director of the missionary orientation course at Jeevan Jyothi in Mandya, professor of patrology at the Ruhalaya major seminary in Ujjain, rector of the Ruhalaya seminary and director general of the Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle from 2008-2013. He is currently director of the Nirmal Jyothi Mental Health Program of Bhopal.