Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Sonatan Kisku, aged 56, as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Dumka in Jharkhand. The announcement was made on Saturday, 12 April 2025. Fr. Kisku is currently serving as the Vicar General of Dumka and the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, Dumka. Fr. Sonatan Kisku was born on 15 May 1969 in the village of Kaudia, under Kalhajor Parish in the Dumka Diocese. He completed his early education at St. Joseph’s Hig

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): Bishop Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (75), Bishop of Simla-Chandigarh, retired on 12 April 2025, marking the end of a 16-year episcopal ministry that began on April 3, 2009. Born on June 3, 1949, in Kadri, Mangalore, Karnataka, Bishop Ignatius was the eldest of three children of R.F.S. Mascarenhas and Florina Mascarenhas. He was baptized at St. Sebastian’s Church, Bendur, and raised in a family grounded in faith and discipline, his father s

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Sahaya Thatheus Thomas (54), Rector of Holy Trinity Major Seminary, Jalandhar, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Simla-Chandigarh. The announcement was made on Saturday, 12 April 2025. At the same time, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (75), who has led the diocese since 2009. Fr Thadeus was born on 6 November 1971 in Chinnavilai, Tamil Nadu, in the Diocese of

Bangalore, 12 April 2025 (CCBI): In a historic decision, Pope Francis has elevated the Diocese of Calicut to a Metropolitan Archdiocese on12 April 2025, also names Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal (72) as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Calicut. The dioceses of Kannur and Sultanpet will serve as their suffragans. The diocese of Calicut in Malabar region has a deep-rooted legacy that dates back over 500 years. Evangelization began in 1498 with the arrival of Trinitarian missio

Ambikapur, April 6, 2025 (CCBI): Archbishop Emeritus Pascal Topno SJ of Bhopal passed away in the early hours of Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 12:30 am at Holy Family hospital in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh. He was 93. Funeral details are awaited. Born on June 15, 1932, in the village of Kcneloea, Jharkhand, Archbishop Topno was raised in a devout Catholic family, where daily evening prayer was an essential part of life. He joined the Society of Jesus on June 20, 1953, and began hi

Bangalore 4 April 2024 (CCBI): Rev. Dr. Gilbert De Lima (68), the new Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine, is appointed as the Rector of St. Pius X Major Seminary, Mumbai. He will take charge on 1 June 2024. Fr. Gilbert was born on January 15, 1956, in the Archdiocese of Bombay. He did his philosophy and theology at St Pius X Seminary and was ordained a priest on April 16, 1983. He holds a B.Com. from Mumbai University. He had a doctorate in s

Bangalore, March 8, 2025 (CCBI): Fr. Paul Prakash Saginala has been appointed as the new Bishop of Cuddapah by Pope Francis. The announcement was made public on March 8, 2025. Until now, he has been serving as a professor of Sacred Scripture at Saint John’s Regional Seminary in Hyderabad. Born on November 28, 1960, in Badvel, Diocese of Cuddapah, Fr. Paul Prakash Saginala pursued his studies in philosophy and theology at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamallee, Chennai. He l

Bangalore, March 1, 2025 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr. John Carvalho (55) of the clergy of the Diocese of Ajmer, currently the Principal of St. Paul’s Sr. Secondary School, Alwar Gate, Ajmer, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Ajmer in Rajasthan. This provision was made public on Saturday March 1, 2025. Diocese of Ajmer became vacant by the resignation of Bishop Pius Thomas D’Souza on June 1, 2024. Bishop Oswald Joseph Lewis Bishop Emeritus of Jaipur wa

Bangalore 27 February 2024 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr Johannes Gorantla, O.C.D., (50) priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelite, currently Rector, Collegio Teresianum, Rome, as the new Bishop of Kurnool. This appointment was made public in Rome on Tuesday 27th February 2024. Fr Johannes Gorantla, O.C.D., was born on 27th February 1974, in Nawabu peta, in the Diocese of Vijaywada. He studied Philosophy at Sacred Heart Philosophical College, Alwaye, Ker

Bangalore, February 8, 2025 (CCBI): The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Udumala Bala Showreddy (70) as the Archbishop of Vishakapatnam in Adhra Pradesh transferring him from the diocese of Warangal on February 8, 2025. He was appointed Bishop of Warangal on April 13, 2013 and ordained Bishop on May 23, 2013. He was the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Khammam from 2022 to 2024. He was the Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI from 2006 to 2013 and the Ch

Bangalore, February 8, 2025 (CCBI): The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Fabian Toppo (64) as the Bishop of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal on February 8, 2025. Currently he is serving as Professor and Spiritual Director of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Kolkata. Pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop Clement Tirkey (77) from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Jalpaiguri. Fr. Fabian Toppo was born on December 21, 1960, in Darupisa, in the Di

Bangalore, February 8, 2025 (CCBI): The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Fr D. Selvarajan (62) as Coadjutor Bishop of Neyyattinkara, Kerala on February 8, 2025. Since 2011, he has been the Judicial Vicar of Neyyattinkara, and since 2019, he has been the Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier in Thirupuram. He was born on January 27, 1962, in Valiyavila. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary in Alwaye and earned a License and Doctorate in Ca