KOCHI: Religious fervour and solemnity marked the installation of Joseph Kalathiparambil as the new Archbishop of Verapoly Archdiocese on Sunday. The rite of Episcopal ordination took place in front of a galaxy of archbishops, priests and Church faithful, who descended onto the premises of Vallarpadam Basilica compound, the venue of the high-profile pontifical event.
Henryk Jagodzinski, Apostolic Nuncio for India (in charge), read out the formal announcement of the consecration in Latin.
Amid hymns, Apostolic administrator Archbishop Francis Kallarakkal, who acted as principal consecrator, presented Kalathiparambil with the holy spectre to mark his installation as pontifical head of the archdiocese. The new archbishop sprinkled the faithful with holy water. A mass followed.
Archbishop Kalathiparampil, 64, replaces Archbishop Francis Kallarakkal, who renounced his office after completing 75 years of age, as stipulated by church law.
Kalathiparambil had been serving in Vatican as secretary to the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People since 2011. From 2002 to 2011, he served as Kozhikode Bishop. He was ordained priesthood on March 13, 1978, by Archbishop Joseph Kelanthara of Verapoly Archdiocese. The motto of Bishop Kalathiparambil Coat of Arms is ‘Super Omnia Caritas’, Latin for ‘Love is the Greatest of All.’
Other priestly responsibilities that Archbishop Kalathiparambil took include being Vicar General of Verapoly Archdiocese, Chancellor of Verapoly Archdiocese, manager of Kalamassery St Paul’s College, vice-rector of St Paul’s College in Rome and assistant vicar of Ernakulam St Francis Assissi Cathedral.
As Kozhikode Bishop, he was instrumental in introducing several reforms in the diocese. To ensure active participation of the faithful, he initiated steps for effective functioning of ‘structures and facilities’ prescribed by Canon Law, namely, Parish Pastoral Committee, Diocesan Pastoral Committee, Diocesan-Parish Finance Committee, Diocesan Synod and Basic Christian Communities.
Syro Malankara Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholica Bava, Syro Malabar Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Archbishop M Susapakyam and others attended the ceremony.