Kochi 22 July 2015: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Kodakallil, of the clergy of Satna, presently Vicar General, as the new Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Satna, Madhya Pradesh. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Wednesday, 22 July 2015, at noon local time, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.
The newly appointed Bishop was born on 18 December 1965 at Pothanikad, in the Eparchy of Kothamangalam, Kerala. Having completed Minor Seminary formation at Deepti Bhavan, Melampara and Kristhu Vidyanikethan, Rewa, and Philosophy at St. Albert’s College, Ranchi and Theology at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, he was ordained priest for the Eparchy of Satna on 31 December 1991. After three years’ ministry as parish priest in Rewa, he took M.Th. from PaurastyaVidyapitham, Vadavathoor and was appointed Rector of the Minor Seminary, Satna and served in that capacity for three years. Having obtained Doctorate in Liturgy from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, he served as Professor at St. Ephrem’s Theological College, Satna. In 2009, he was appointed Vicar General and the Parish Priest of St. Vincent’s Cathedral Satna. At present he is the Rector of the Minor Seminary at Satna.
When the Exarchy of Satna, erected in 1968 was raised to an Eparchy in 1977, Mar A.D. Mattam VC was appointed as its first Bishop. After the retirement of Mar A. D. Mattam on 18 December 1999, Mar Mathew Vaniakizhakel VC was ordained Bishop on 12 April 2000. After 15 years of Episcopal Ministry, Mar Mathew Vaniakizhakel retired from office on 27 August 2014 and the now Mgr. Joseph Kodakallil is appointed his successor. The Eparchy of Satna has 9 parishes and 10 Mission Stations and 15 Sub-stations served by 52 eparchial priests.