Bangalore 1 September 2017 (CCBI): The Synod of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church, gathered at Mount St. Thomas, Kerala, having received prior Papal Assent according to CCEO can. 184, canonically elected to the office of Curia Bishop Rev. Fr. Sebastian Vaniyapurackal, of the clergy of Kanjirapally, till now Vice Chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia. The Curia Bishop-Elect has been assigned the Titular See of Troina. These ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Friday, 1st September, 2017.
Fr. Sebastian Vaniyapurackal was born on 29th March, 1967, at Mulamkunnu, in the Eparchy of Kanjirapally. After his school education he joined the eparchial Minor Seminary and had his philosophical and theological formation in St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor. He was ordained Priest on 30th December, 1992. After ordination he served as Assistant Parish Priest at St. George Forane Church, Kattappana (1993-1995) and Director of Yuvadeepti, Eparchy of Kanjirapally (1995-2000), Vicar of St. Mary’s Church, Pazhaya Koratty (1998-99). Later he was sent to Rome for higher studies (2000-2005), where he took his Doctorate in Oriental Canon Law from the Holy Cross University, Rome. After his return, he served as Judge of the Eparchial Tribunal, Kanjirapally (from 2005), Vicar, St. Thomas Church, Poomattam (2005-2009), Judicial Vicar (2006-2014), Vicar, St. George Church, Chennakunnu (2009-2012), and Vicar, Infant Jesus Church, Mulamkunnu (2012-2014). From September 2014, he has been serving as Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Vice Chancellor.