Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Jose Sebastian Thekkumcherikunnel as the new bishop of the Diocese of Jullundur in Punjab, the Sikh-dominated northwestern Indian state.
The announcement was made public on June 7, at 12:00 noon (Vatican time) and at 3:30 PM (IST) at the CBCI Centre, New Delhi.
Father Thekkumcherikunnel currently serves as the financial administrator of the Diocese of Jullundur and parish priest of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Phagwara. He belongs to the clergy of the same diocese.
Born on December 24, 1962, in Kalaketty, in the Diocese of Palai, Kerala, he was ordained a priest on May 1, 1991, for the Diocese of Jullundur.
After completing his minor seminary formation in Trichur (1978–1982), he pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. Charles Inter-Diocesan Major Seminary, Nagpur. He later obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.
Over the years, he has served the Diocese of Jullundur in various capacities, including:
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Member, Diocesan Board of Education
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Member, Presbyteral Council (1996–2002)
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Dean, Amritsar Deanery (1996–2002)
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Vice Chancellor (2005–2007)
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Chancellor, Judicial Vicar, and Member of the Governing Council of the Major Seminary (2007–2020)
His appointment as bishop is welcomed with gratitude and joy by the faithful of the Diocese of Jullundur.
Let us keep bishop-elect Thekkumcherikunnel in our prayers as he takes on this new mission of pastoral leadership.
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