Appointment of bishop of Ahmedabad, India

The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Ahmedabad, India, Rev. Fr. Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian, of the clergy of Ahmedabad, currently Rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary Vianney Vihar, in Baroda.

Rev. Fr. Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian

The Rev. Fr. Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian was born on 10 February 1961 in Parampukkarai, diocese of Kottar, in the State of Tamilnadu. He studied at the Saint Charles Major Seminary in Nagpur. He holds a licentiate in clinical psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 29 March 1989 for the diocese of Ahmedabad.

Since priestly ordination he has held the following positions: parish vicar in Sanand (1989-1991); rector of the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary, Ahmedabad (1991-1993); dean of Saint Xavier's High School, Chavdapura (1993-1994); studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1994-1998); rector of the Shradha Interdiocesan Seminary, Ahmedabad (1998-2002); rector of the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary in Ahmedabad and spiritual director of the Gujarat Vidya Deep Seminary, Baroda (2002-2012); and since 2012, rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary Vianney Vihar, Baroda, teacher and spiritual director at Gujarat Vidya Deep, Baroda, and spiritual director at Saint Joseph Minor Seminary, Ahmedabad. He is a member of the presbyteral council and Consultor of the diocese of Ahmedabad.