Mgr Stephen Chirappanath appointed Apostolic Visitator for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Europe AND New Eparchy for the Syro-Malabar Church in Great Britain with Fr. Joseph (Benny Mathew) Srampickal as the first Bishop

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Pope Francis appointed Mgr. Stephen Chirappanath from the Eparchy of Irinjalakuda as the Apostolic Visitator with Episcopal character, for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Europe.  The official publication of this appointment was made in the Vatican today (Thursday, 28 July 2016) at 12.00 p.m. Italian time and simultaneously at 3.30 p.m. IST at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. At Kakkanad, the announcement was made by the Major Archbishop.  After the announcement, the Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry and Bishop PaulyKannookadan, Bishop of Irinjalakuda adorned the Bishop-elect with the insignia of Episcopacy.

Mgr. Chirappanath was born on 26 December 1961 at Puthenchira in the Eparchy of Irinjalakuda as the seventh child of the eight children of Late Mr. Paul and Late Mrs. Rosy Kavalakkattu-Chirappanath. He had his school education at Holy Family L.P. School, Puthenchira, St. Mary’s U.P. School, Kuzhikattussery, and Rural High School, Thumboor.  He had his Minor Seminary formation at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thope, Trichur, Philosophical and Theological studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam. He was ordained priest on 26 December 1987 by Bishop James Pazhayattil.  After his ministry as Assistant Parish Priest in St. Mary’s Forane Church, Chalakudy and St. Joseph’s Church, Aloor and as Father Prefect in St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Irijalakuda, Mgr. Chirappanath was sent to Rome for higher studies from where he obtained Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy of the Lateran University.  

On his return from Rome, Mgr. Chirappanath has rendered his service as the Director of various Pious Associations, Secretary of the Eparchial Pastoral Council, Judge in Matrimonial Tribunal, General Convener of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 celebrations, Assistant Director of BLM, Director of Navachaitanya-SanjoBhavan, Parish Priest of St. Antony’s Church, Paduvanagar and Rector, St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Irinjalakuda.  He also served in St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor as Lecturer, Vice-Rector and Procurator.  He had been a Visiting Professor at Mary Matha Major Seminary, Thirssur and Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kunnoth. 

Pope Francis nominated him Apostolic Visitator, as he was serving in Rome as the Procurator of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church at the Apostolic See, Co-ordinator for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Italy and Parish Priest of the Syro-Malabar faithful in Rome for the past five years. He will be continuing the ministry of the Procurator of the Major Archbishop at the Apostolic See. He is also a member of the Presbyteral Council of the diocese of Rome representing the priests serving the migrant communities from different countries residing in Rome.   


A new eparchy is erected for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Great Britain with its See at Preston.  Pope Francis appointed Fr. Joseph (Benny Mathew) Srampickal from the Eparchy of Palai as its first Bishop.  The official publication of this appointment was made in the Vatican today (Thursday, 28 July 2016) at 12.00 p.m. Italian time and simultaneously at 3.30 p.m. IST at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. At Kakkanad, the Major Archbishop and in St Alphonsa’s Cathedral, Preston, Most Rev. Michael Campbell OSA made the announcement of the appointment.  After the announcement, the Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry and Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, Bishop of Palai adorned the Bishop- elect with the insignia of Episcopacy. 

Fr. Srampickal was born on 11 August 1967 at Urulikunnam in the Eparchy of Palai as the fourth child of the six children of Late Mr. Mathew and Mrs. ElikuttySrampickal. He had his school education from L.P. School, Valiyakottaram, St. George U.P. School, Urulikunnam, and St. Joseph’s High School, Vilakumadam. He had his Pre-Degree, Degree and Post-Graduate Studies in Political Science from St. Thomas College, Palai.  He also secured his B.Ed. from St. Thomas Training College, Palai, and M.Ed. from Mangalore University, Karnataka.  He has also obtained Masters Degree in Oriental Theology from Oxford University, England.  He had his Minor Seminary formation in Good Shepherd Seminary, Palai and Philosophical studies in St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam.  He was sent to Pontifical Urban Seminary, Rome, for theological studies. He secured Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from Urban University, Rome.  He was ordained priest on 12 August 2000 by Bishop Joseph Pallickaparampil. He knows Malayalam, English, Italian and German languages.

After his ordination, Fr. Srampickal rendered his service as teacher in the Eparchial Minor Seminary of Palai, Mar Ephrem Formation Centre and in St. Thomas Training College, Palai.  He also served as the Founder Director of both Mar Sleeva Nursing College, Cherpunkal, and Mount Nebo Retreat Centre, Wagamon. He was Coordinator of the Eparchial Evangelization Programme and Director of Kudumbakoottayma(Family Prayer Units), Eparchial Charismatic Movement, Jesus Youth, Bible Convention, Prayer Centres etc. From 2005 to 2013, he was Secretary of Palai Eparchial Medical Eduction Trust.  From 2012 until the appointment as Vice Rector of the Pontifical Urban College De Propaganda Fide, Rome, on 31 August 2013, he was Secretary to Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt. He has also done pastoral ministry in St. Alphonsa Parish, Kankanady in the Eparchy of Belthangady during his studies in Mangalore and in England during his studies at Oxford.  Since last three years, while serving as the Vice Rector of Urban College, he has been assisting in the pastoral ministry for the Syro-Malabar faithful in Rome. During this Year of Mercy, among more than 1000 Missionaries of Mercy chosen by Pope Francis was the Bishop-elect Fr Joseph Srampickal.