The Most. Rev. Dr.

Francis Kallarakal
Archbishop Emeritus of Verapoly
The Most. Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarackal
ProvinceVerapoly (Emeritus)
DioceseVerapoly (Emeritus)
Installed11 April 2010[1][2][3]
Term ended18 December 2016
PredecessorDaniel Acharuparambil
SuccessorJoseph Kalathiparambil
Orders
Ordination29 June 1968[1][2][3]
Consecration4 October 1987
Personal details
Born (1941-10-10) October 10, 1941[1][2][3]
Kottapuram, Trichur District.
NationalityIndian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Styles of
Francis Kallarackal
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Francis Kallarackal was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) Archdiocese of Verapoly in India. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 20 February 2010.

Born to Kallarackal Ouso and Brigitte of Kottapuram on 10 October 1941.[4] He had his high school education from St. Albert's High School, Ernakulam and he joined the St. Joseph's Minor Seminary in 1956. After completing pre-degree course from St. Albert's College, Ernakulam,[5] he joined St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye, for pursuing studies in Philosophy. He completed his master's in theology from Propaganda College, Rome and was ordained as priest on 29 June 1968. He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome and Post Graduation from Fairfiled University, USA.[4] When he returned from abroad in 1970, he was appointed secretary to the then Archbishop Joseph Kelanthara.[6]

From 1978 to 1986 he served as the social action director of the Archdiocese. He was then appointed the administrator of St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, which is established and managed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.

In 1987, as the Diocese of Kottapuram was created through the bifurcation of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, he became the first bishop of Kottapuram by the Apostolic Letter "Romani et Pontificis" dated 3 July 1987. With his episcopal consecration on the feast day of St. Francis Assisi, the Diocese of Kottapuram was inaugurated on 4 October 1987.[7] As the Bishop of Kottapuram, he called for a Diocesan Synod, conducted in 2007-2008.

Archbishop Francis Kallarakkal is the Vice President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council and Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council and Archbishop of Verapoly. He serves as vice-chairman of the Media Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council, Chairman of the Carmelgiri Pontifical Seminary Episcopal Commission and KRLCC publication "Jeevanadam".

As the Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly the Kallarakal called a Diocesan Synod in Verpaoly, and a diocesan synod at Kottapuram while he was serving as the Bishop of Kottapuram. The Diocesan Synod in Verapoly proposed major reformas in the Archdiocese of Verapoly, giving the laity more participation in the Church.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Official website of Archdiocese of Verapoly - Most. Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarackal". Varepoly.in. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Archdiocese of Verapoly, India". Gcatholic.org. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Archbishop Francis Kallarakal". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Bishops from the Diocese | Kottapuram Diocese". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  5. "St. Albert's College, Cochin, Kerala, India". Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. Verapoly, Kcym (6 March 2010). "KCYM Archdiocese of Verapoly: The Most Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarackal - The New Archbishop of Verapoly". Verapolykcym.blogspot.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  7. "Home | Kottapuram Diocese". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.