Bangalore 19 November, 2020 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Most Rev. Anthony Poola (59), currently Bishop of Kurnool, as Archbishop of Hyderabad, Telangana on Thursday, 19 November, 2020.
Bishop Anthony Poola was born on 15 November, 1961, at Chindhukur, Andhra Pradesh. He joined the minor seminary in Kurnool and then studied at St. Peter’s Pontifical Major Seminary, Bangalore. He was ordained priest on 20 February, 1992. At the age of 46 he was appointed as the Bishop of Kurnool on 8 February, 2008 and was ordained Bishop on 19 April 2008.
He has served in the following ministries: 1992-1993: Assistant at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Maria Puram, Kadapa; 1993-1994: Assistant Parish Priest at Amagampalli; 1994-1995: Parish Priest at Tekurpet, Correspondent RCM Elementary Schools, Chinayarasal & Kappalapalli; 1995-2000: Parish Priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Badvel, Director St. Thomas Boarding Home, Badvel; 2000-2001: Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Veerapally; Correspondent RCM UP School, Veerapally and Konasamudram, Director – Vander Valk Boy’s Boarding Home; 2001-2002: Resident priest at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo Diocese, U.S.A.;
2002-2003: Associate Pastor at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Chicago; 2003-: Coordinator for CFCA – Secretary for Education Society, Deputy Manager, RCM Schools, Diocese of Cuddapah, Editor of CFCA Samachara Lekha; 2008-: Bishop of Kurnool;2008-2015: Chairman for Youth Commission Telugu Region; 2008-2015: Chairman for Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes Commission; 2008-2020: Chairman for Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society; 2014-2020: Secretary General and Treasurer of Telugu Catholic Bishops’ Conference; 2014-2020: Chairman of the Sikh Village Campus, Secretariat for TCBC Priests Community; 2014-2020: Chairman for Jeevan in-state Printing Press. He is a priest for 28 years and a Bishop for 12 years.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General, CCBI