John Nellikkunnel, hailing from Kadaplamattam in Palai and James Athikkalam from Pulimkunnu, have been appointed the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar dioceses of Idukki and Sagar, Uttar Pradesh, respectively. The announcement was made here on Friday by Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry at the church’s headquarters St. Thomas’ Mount, Kakkanad.
The new appointments are being made in place of the present Bishops of the two dioceses attaining the retirement age of 75, said the Cardinal.
ProfilesADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Father Nellikkunnel was born in 1973. He heads the corporate education agency of the Idukki diocese at present. Father Athikkalam was born in 1958. He is the director of the Nirmal Jyoti Mental Health Programme in Bhopal and coordinator of the Syro-Malabar faithful in the central region of the country. The newly-appointed Bishops were presented by the Cardinal at a press conference here.