Bangalore 24 February 2020 (CCBI) His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Jose Chirackal (60), of the clergy of the diocese Tura, as Auxiliary Bishop of Tura, Meghalaya on Monday, 24th February, 2020.
He was born on 14 July, 1960 in Karukutty, Kerala, in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, and was ordained priest on 29 December, 1987. After the schooling in Kerala, he joined the Diocese of Tura in 1976. He studied at St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Shillong, Philosophy at Christ King College, Shillong, and Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and later a Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law from Università Urbaniana, Roma, in 1995.
He served the Diocese in the following ministries: 1988-1991: Assistant Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Selsella; 1991: Acting Headmaster, Sacred Heart School, Dalu; 1995-2004: Rector, St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Tura; 2004-2009: Diocesan Procurator and Chancellor; 2004-2011: Judicial Vicar and Diocesan Spokesperson; 2009-2011: Parish Priest, Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Tura; 2011-2014: Rector, Oriens Theological College, Shillong, and Secretary, North East Regional Commission for Vocations and Formation; 2014-2019: Diocesan Procurator, Diocesan Spokesperson and Defender of the Bond. Since July 2019: Parish Priest, St. Luke’s Church, Walbakgre, Tura and Director of Pastoral Centre. He has been member of the College of Consultors, and visiting professor in Oriens Theological College, Shillong.