Bangalore 2 February 2016: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Christudas Rajappan, of the Clergy of Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum, as Auxiliary Bishop of Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum and Titular Bishop of Avitta Bibba. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Tuesday, 2 February 2016, at noon local time, corresponding to 16:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.
Rev. Fr. Christudas Rajappan was born on 25 November 1971, at Adimalathura, in the Archdiocese of Trivandrum of Latins. He entered the Minor Seminary in 1987, did his priestly formation at Papal Seminary, Pune, and was ordained Priest on 25th November, 1998 for the same Archdiocese. He served the diocese as Parish Priest at Neerody (1998-1999), Secretary to the Archbishop and Director of K.C.Y.M., Trivandrum (1999-2001), Parish Priest at Paruthiyoor and Director of K.C.Y.M., Trivandrum (2001-2004).
In 2004 he went to Austria for a German Language Course and then obtained a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology at Scalabrinian International Migration Institute, Rome (2005-2007). He also obtained a Doctorate in Missiology from the Urbaniana University, Rome (2007-2010). On his return he was appointed Professor at the Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye (2010-2012). Since 2013 he is Rector of St. Vincent Minor Seminary, Menamkulam, Director of the Board for Clergy and Religious, and since 2014 also Parish Priest of St. Thomas Church, Kochuthura.
The Archdiocese of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) is one of the biggest diocese of Kerala having a Catholic population of nearly 2,50,000 people, even after the bifurcation of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara four years ago. The 75 parishes and 44 Mission stations of the Diocese are grouped together into 8 Vicariates in 3 Episcopates. At present there are 133 incardinated priests in the Archdiocese including those retired, studying and working for other Dioceses and 27 religious priests.