Velha, Goa on November 7, 2023 (CCBI) The Association of Rectors of Major Seminaries (ARMS) celebrated the silver jubilee of the episcopal ordination of Most Rev. Varghese Chakkalakal, who serves as the Patron of ARMS and holds the position of Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy, and Religious (VSCR) and also the Bishop of Calicut. This event also marked the silver jubilee of Rev. Dr. Richard Britto, who is the President of ARMS and the Rector of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore. The celebration took place during the 22nd general body meeting of ARMS at the Pilar Animation Centre in Velha, Goa on November 7, 2023.
His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, the President, CCBI and Archbishop of Goa and Daman, honoured Bishop Varghese with an Indian shawl and expressed deep gratitude and appreciation for his contributions to the Church as the Bishop of Calicut, Chairman of the CCBI Commission for VSCR, and as the President of the Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRLCBC).
During the event, Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, the Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI, extended the felicitations to Bishop Varghese on behalf of the CCBI and ARMS. He also highlighted Bishop Varghese’s dedicated service to the Church in India, including his roles as the Secretary General of the CCBI from 2011 to 2017 and the Secretary General of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) from 2004 to 2007. Additionally, he extended heartfelt felicitations and congratulations to Rev. Dr. Richard Britto, who celebrated the silver jubilee of his priestly ordination.
Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal was born in St. Antony’s Church, Malapallipuram, in the diocese of Kottapuram, on 7 February 1953. He completed his philosophical and theological studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mangalore. He was ordained as a priest for the diocese of Calicut on 2 April 1981.
After his priestly ordination he was: assistant parish priest in the parish of Lourdu Matha, Pallikunnu (1981-1982); assistant parish priest in the parish of S. Antonio, Pakkom (1982-1984); student at St Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Alwaye (1984-1986); assistant parish priest in three parishes: Chalil, West Hill, Ezhimala (1986-1987); student at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, where he obtained a degree in Canon Law (1987-1991); Parish priest in Perinthalmanna and Chali (1991-1992). He has been Professor of Canon Law and Moral Theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore (1992-1998).
On 5 November 1998 he was appointed the first Bishop of Kannur at the age of 45 and ordained Bishop on 7 February 1999. He is appointed Bishop of Calicut on 15 May 2012 and installed on 10 June 2012. He holds master’s in theology from St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Alwaye and master’s in history from Mysore University. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law from Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome.
Rev. Dr. Richard Britto is the diocesan clergy of Mysore and the Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore. He was born on July 20, 1971 and was ordained a priest on May 5, 1998. He obtained a master’s in philosophy at the same Seminary in 2005 and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome in 2009. He carried out his service at St. Peter’s Seminary for 18 years, he held the position of Vice-Rector from 2016-2021. He was appointed the Rector in 2021.
Rev. Dr. Charles Leon
Secretary, Commission for VSCR