BISHOPS

• + Vicar of the Major Archbishop
  • Mar Joseph Pamplany
    Mar Joseph Pamplany was born on 03.12.1969 at Charal in the Archdiocese of Tellicherry as the fifth son among the seven children of Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Mary Pamplany. Mar Joseph had his lower primary school education at St. Sebastian’s School, Charal, high school education at St. Thomas High School, Kilianthara, and Pre-degree education at Nirmalagiri College, Koothuparamba. He joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Tellicherry in 1988 and completed his priestly formation at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary Alwaye. On 30.12.1997 he was ordained priest by Mar George Valiamattam at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church Tellicherry. He served the eparchy as assistant vicar at St. Joseph’s Forane Church, Peravoor, and Vicar, St. Thomas Church, Deepagiri.
    
    He obtained M.A in Religious Studies from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium in 2001, and Licentiate and Ph.D. in Sacred Scripture in 2006 from the same university. The title of his doctoral dissertation was “Crossing the Abysses: An Exegetical Study of John 20:24-29 in the Light of Johannine Notion of Discipleship”. He also holds P.G. Diploma in German, Hebrew, and Greek languages.
    
    Returning after his higher studies he was appointed as the Director of Bible Apostolate of the Archdiocese. He initiated the establishment of the Alpha Institute of Theology and Science, an institution for the theological formation of lay people. He became its founder director. He has been teaching Sacred Scripture in St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Aluva, Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kunnoth, St. Peter’s Seminary, Bangalore, and Divine Bible College, Muringoor. He is serving as a research guide in various ecclesiastical Universities and institutions.
    
    He was elected by the Holy Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church as the first auxiliary bishop of Tellicherry and his episcopal consecration was held on 08.11. 2017. He was ordined by Mar George Njaralakatt assisted by Mar George Valiamattam and Mar Joseph Kallarngattu at st. Joseph’s Cathedral Thalassery. He was installed as the Archbishop of Tellicherry on 20th April 2022.
    
    Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany is a well-known writer and versatile orator. He has published more than 30 books, 40 research articles in national and international publications, and more than 250 articles in regional Malayalam periodicals. He has membership in the editorial bodies of many academic publications. He has presented many research papers in international and national seminars. As a retreat preacher, he has preached about 1000 retreats to bishops, priests, and religious and laity groups. He is a Syro Malabar permanent Synodal Member Syro Malabar Synodal Secretary. He was the secretary of the CBCI Commission for Doctrine; Secretary, the CBCI Commission for Inter Ritual Text Books; Member, FABC Theology Commission; Member, the Doctrinal Commission of KCBC and Syro-Malabar Synod and Member, the textbook committee of the Mystagogical Catechesis of the Syro-Malabar Synod. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Media Commission of both KCBC and Syro Malabar Church. He is the chairman of the Synodal Commission of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kunnoth.
    
    On January 07, 2025, Session I of the XXXIII Synod of Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, during its third sitting elected him to the Office of the Vicar of the Major Archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly and took charge on 11 January 2025.