Resignation and appointment of bishop of the eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago of the Syro-Malabars, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago of the Syro-Malabars, United States of America, presented by Bishop Jacob Angadiath.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Joy Alappat, until now auxiliary of the same circumscription, as bishop of the eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago of the Syro-Malabars, transferring him from the titular see of Bencenna.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Joy Alappat was born on 27 September 1956 in the Parappukara zone in the eparchy of Irinjalakuda, Kerala. After his priestly formation at the Saint Thomas the Apostle Seminary, Vadavathoor, he was ordained a priest on 31 December 1981. He was awarded a master’s degree in theology at Saint Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Aluva, and the Adheva University, Wattair.

He has held the following ministerial roles: pastoral assistant at Chalakudy, Mala, and in the eparchial cathedral, and chaplain of the Syro-Malabar community in Chennai. Before transferring to the United States in 1993, and while he was chaplain at Georgetown University, he completed his Clinical Pastoral Education qualification.

He held other pastoral offices in New Milford, Connecticut; Newark, and Garfield, New Jersey. From 2011 until his episcopal nomination he served as vicar of the eparchial cathedral in Bellwood, Illinois.

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Saint Thomas the Apostle of Chicago Eparchy of the Syro-Malabars on 24 July 2014, and received episcopal consecration on 27 September of the same year.

Besides Malayalam and English, he knows Hindi and Tamil.