Chairman
Most Rev. Antonysamy Savarimuthu
Bishop of Palayamkottai
Catholic Bishop’s House, John Paul Nagar
Maharaja Nagar, Tirunelveli – 627 011
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: 0462-2522114
Email: bishop@palayamkottaidiocese.org
Executive Secretary
Rev. Dr. Merlin Rengith Ambrose
Professor of Canon Law, St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary
8th Main, 18th Cross
Malleswaram West Post , Bangalore- 560 055
Karnataka, India
Phone: +91-9884668927
Email: canonlaw@ccbi.in
Member
Most Rev. Dominic Savio Fernandes
Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay
Archbishop’s House, 21-Nathalal Parekh Marg
Mumbai – 400 001, Maharashtra, India
Phone: 9820692512
Email: bp.savio@archdiocesebombay.org
Member
Most Rev. Jose Chirackal
Auxiliary Bishop of Tura
Bishop’s House, Post Box No. 10
Tura, West Garo Hills – 794 001
Meghalaya, India
Phone: 70050 54095
Email: jchirackal@gmail.com
Vision and Mission Statement for the Commission
Vision provides a guide, a blueprint giving direction to one’s efforts. The member bishops and the consulters prepared the following Vision and Mission Statement for the Canon Law Commission:
Vision
To Establish the Kingdom of God and to ensure the salvation of the souls by promoting the values of love, truth, justice, peace, harmony, communion and participation based on the laws of the Church.
To bring the Canon Law to lay faithful and to promote a participatory Church mirroring the synodal thinking.
Mission
The Commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts by its planning and the formative and executive programme will reinforce and implement these Vision Statements by forming, strengthening and sustaining the effective administrative and pastoral structures in the local Church according to the mind of Christ and the Church. Thus, it will promote a healthy and participatory Church, reflecting the Kingdom of God.
Former Chairmen
1. His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Bombay: 1998 – 2006
2. Most Rev. Anthony Anandarayar, Pondicherry: 2006 – 2015
3. Most Rev. George Antonysamy, Madras-Mylapore: 2015-2019
4. Most Rev. Derek Fernandes, Karwar: 2019-2023
5. Most Rev. Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Palayamkottai : 2023-
Former Executive Secretaries
1. Msgr. Joseph Chinnayyan: 1988-2003
2. Fr. Dominic Savio Fernandes: 2003-2005
3. Fr. Peter Thumma: 2006-2010
4. Fr. Arulselvam Rayappan: 2010-2018
5. Fr. Irudaya Raj S. 2018-2022
6. Fr. Merlin Rengith Ambrose-2022-