Our Bishops

Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath was born at Pudukad in Thrissur district on 13th December 1951. After having completed school education at Pudukad and priestly formation at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thrissur, and St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, he was ordained priest at Nandhikkara for the Eparchy of Trichur on 14th March 1977. He holds Bachlor’s Degree in Theology (B.D.) from Aluva and Doctorate in the Eastern Canon Law (DOCL) from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome.

He served the Eparchy as Asst. Parish Priest, Parish Priest, Prefect of the Minor Seminary, Secretary, Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor of the Eparchial Curia, Rector of Dolours Basilica and Adj. Judicial Vicar and Judge of the Eparchial Tribunal. He has served as the President of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Ordinary Tribunal of Ernakulam - Angamaly, the Syncellus of the Archeparchy, the working Chairman and Managing Director of Jeevan Telecasting Corporation and the President of the Oriental Canon Law Society of India. On 7th August 2003 Pope John Paul II conferred on him the honour of Papal Chamberlain. He was nominated the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Trichur and Titular Bishop of the Aptuca on 19th March 2004 by pope John Paul II He was ordained Bishop by H.G. Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy on Ist of May 2004 at Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, Thrissur.

He was nominated the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trichur succeeding Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy on 22nd January 2007 and was installed to the office on 18th March 2007 by his Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil. Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI named Mar Andrews Thazhath to be a consultor of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts from 30 June, 2008 for a period of 5 years. In December 2011, Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath was elected President of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC). On 9th October 2011 he was nominated member of the Central Co-ordination Committee (CCC) by the Central Ministry of Social Jusitce and Empowerment. At present he is also a member of the Steering Committee of CBCI, President of Kerala Catholic Council (KCC) and Chairman of Jeevan T.V.

Mar Raphael Thattil was born in Thrissur on April 21, 1956. After his school education at St. Thomas College High School, he joined St Mary’s Thope Minor Seminary on 4th July 1971. Having his ecclesiastical studies in St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, he was ordained priest by Mar Joseph Kundukulam on 21th December 1980. He was appointed Assistant Vicar of Aranattukara Parish and then Fr. Prefect of minor seminary. He was asked to pursue higher studies at Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome and took Doctorate in Canon Law. On coming back he was appointed Vice Chancellor, then chancellor, Judge, director of catechism etc.

When Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy started Marymatha Major Seminary for the Archdiocese, he was appointed the first Rector of the Seminary. He was serving as Proto-Syncellus when he was nominated the Auxiliary Bishop on 18th January 2010. His Grace Mar Andrews Thazhath, Metropolitan Archbishop of Trichur ordained him bishop on 10th April 2010. He attended the course for the newly ordained bishops from 9th to 17th September, 2010 in Rome. As the bishop he had his first personal audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict IV on 13th September, 2010. At present he is also the KCBC Chairman of Kerala Charismatic Movement and the Manager of St. Thomas College, Thrissur. In the Cultural Capital of Kerala he is the icon of inter religious fraternity.

Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy was born at Vilakumadam in the Eparchy of Palai on December 13, 1930. At present his family belongs to the Sacred Heart Parish, Thiruvambady in the Eparchy of Thamarassery. He had his seminary studies at the St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye and Pontifical Urban University, Rome. After ordination he continued his studies in Rome and took his Doctorate in Canon and Civil Law from the Lateran University, Rome. On coming back he was appointed secretary of Mar Sebastian Vallopilly the then Bishop of Thalassery and Chancellor of the same Eparchy. Later he was appointed Rector of the Eparchial Minor Seminary at Tellicharry. After a few years he resumed his studies at Fordham University, NewYork from where he holds a Masters degree in English literature.

Soon after his return from the United States of America he was again appointed Rector of the Eparchial Minor Seminary, Tellicherry and worked there until his nomination as the first Bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Mananthavady in 1973. He was ordained Bishop on May 1st, 1973 by the late Joseph Cardinal Parecattil assisted by late Mar Sebastian Vayalil and Mar Sebastian Valloppilly. The Bishop took charge of the diocese on the same day. He served the Eparchy of Manathavady for 22 Years.

On 7th June, 1995 he was appointed bishop of Thamarassery and took charge of his office on 28 July 1995. On 18th Dec. 1996, he was appointed Archbishop of Trichur and was installed on Feb. 15, 1997. Marymatha Major Seminary, Jubilee Mission Medical College, Jeevan TV., Jyothi Engineering College, Mahajubilee Training College (B.Ed. College), etc. are some of his pioneering contributions to the Catholic Church and society. He retired from the office on 18th March 2007 and stays at St. Mary's Minor Seminary, Madona Nagar, Trichur.