By Fr Felix Antony –
Miao, 21 December: The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) has appointed Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao Diocese, Arunachal Pradesh, to lead the Office of Evangelization in Asia for a period of three years starting from 1 January 2020.
The appointment of Bishop PK, as he is fondly called by the people around the North East Region, comes close on the heels of the appointment of Cardinal Tagle of Manila Philippines as Prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by Pope Francis in the first week of this month.
The Church in North East region has received the news with joy and much hope for the future.
Archbishop Emeritus and former Chairman for the Office of Evangelization of FABC, Thomas Menamparampil expressed happiness joy over the appointment Bishop George for the same office. “Having had an intense experience in the field of Evangelization over several decades in a sensitive corner of Asia, he will be able to make a major contribution to the office entrusted to him”, he said.
Bishop George, 65, is also the Chairman Bishop of Youth Commission and Evangelization Commission in the North East Regional Bishops’ Council. Charged with great enthusiasm to spread the message of the Gospel and deep love for the people in the North East Region, Bishop PK is the right person to lead the Church’s work of Evangelization in Asia, said Fr. Johnson Parackal, the President of SIGNIS India North East.
As Chairman, Bishop George has his job cut out for the Church during these troubled times across Asia. Upon assuming Office, the new Chairman will be working with Broderick Pabillo, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, Simon Poh Hoon Seng, Archbishop of Kuching, Josheph Son Sam-seok, Bishop of Busan and Dr. Camillus Fernando from the Colombo Catholic Press, to oversee the work of Evangelization in 19 Member Bishops’ and eight Associate Member Bishops’ Conferences across Asia.
The appointment of Cardinal Tagle as Prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization across the world and Bishop George’s for the same Office in Asia augur well for the Church in Asia in general and for India in particular.