New Delhi: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Jose Chirackal, of the clergy of Tura (a hilly town and a municipality in West Garo Hills district in the North Eastern Indian state of Meghalaya), as Auxiliary Bishop of Tura. This provision was made public in Rome on Monday, 24th February, 2020 and was communicated by the Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi.
“The Catholic Bishops of India (CBCI) has greeted Bishop-elect Jose Chirackal and has sought the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the episcopal ministry of the new Auxiliary Bishop,” stated Archbishop Felix Anthony Machado, Secretary General, CBCI.
Fr. Jose Chirackal was born on 14th July, 1960 in Karukutty, Kerala, in the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, and was ordained priest on 29th December, 1987, for the Diocese of Tura. After the schooling in Kerala, he joined the Diocese of Tura in 1976. He studied at St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Shillong, Philosophy at Christ King College, Shillong, and Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and later a Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law from Università Urbaniana, Roma, in 1995.
He served the diocese in the following ministries: 1988-1991: Asst. Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Selsella; 1991: Acting Headmaster, Sacred Heart School, Dalu; 1995-2004: Rector, St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Tura; 2004-2009: Diocesan Procurator and Chancellor; 2004-2011: Judicial Vicar and Diocesan Spokesperson; 2009-2011: Parish Priest, Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Tura; 2011-2014: Rector, Oriens Theological College, Shillong, and Secretary, North East Regional Commission for Vocations and Formation; 2014-2019: Diocesan Procurator, Diocesan Spokesperson and Defender of the Bond. Since July 2019: Parish Priest, St. Luke’s Church, Walbakgre, Tura and Director of Pastoral Centre. He has been member of the College of Consultors, and visiting professor in Oriens Theological College, Shillong, for many years.