Our Bishops

The Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Jeevanandam Amalanathan on 11.02.2024 in the premise of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India

The Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Jeevanandam Amalanathan took place around 4.45 p.m., on 11th February 2024 in St. Mary’s Cathedral premise. The procession started from the Portico of the Bishop’s House, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India, exactly at 4.30 p.m., proceeding towards the Altar prepared for the ceremony.

The New Bishop, Most Rev. Jeevanandam Amalanathan, Msgr. Juan Pablo, three Archbishops and Bishops were greeted with ‘Kumba Aarathi,’ an Indian way of welcoming the guests followed by a short felicitation Ceremony on the stage. One of the Vicars Forane, Very Rev. Fr. R. Peter Arockiadoss, Parish Priest and Vicar Forane of Lalgudi Vicariate received them with open arms.

The Episcopal Ordination Ceremony was held in the presence of Msgr. Juan Pablo, representative of His Grace Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio in India and Nepal, New Delhi, three Archbishops of Tamil Nadu, 20 Bishops from Tamil Nadu consisting of Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Rites, 600 Priests, 300 hundred Sisters and 2000 lay faithful.

His Grace Most Rev. Francis Kalist, Archbishop of Pondicherry-Cuddalore was the chief consecrator along with the other two co-consecrators, namely Most Rev.Antonisamy Francis, Bishop-emeritus of Kumbakonam and Most Rev. Nazarene Soosai, Bishop of Kottar. During the Ceremony, the new Bishop Most Rev. Jeevanandam Amalanathan was presented to the Consecrators by two of the diocesan priests: Very Rev. Fr. M. Philomindas and Rev. Fr. G. Cosmon Arockiaraj. Msgr. Juan Pablo read out the Papal Bull in public, which was in Latin and the Tamil version of the same was read out by Rev. Fr. M. A. Sebastian. Most Rev. Neethinathan Anthonisamy, Bishop of Chingleput preached a meaningful homily on the theme, “Good Shepherd.” The newly ordained Bishop Most Rev. Jeevanandam Amalanathan continued celebrating the Holy Mass. Just before the Thanksgiving Prayer, all the priests of Kumbakonam diocese both diocesan and religious greeted and promised the new bishop the vow of obedience. The new Bishop Most Rev. Jeevanandam Amalanathan delivered vote of thanks to all the Consecrator and Co-consecrators, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Religious and the Laity for their valuable prayers and presence. A word of special thanks was addressed to Most Rev. Peter Remigius, Bishop – Emeritus of Kottar, who ordained him a priest in 1990 followed by a short speech by Most Rev. Peter Remigius who congratulated and wished the new Bishop.

The EpiscopalOrdination Ceremony came to an end with a Hymn to our Blessed Mother followed by dinner arranged in the premise itself for all the participants.