Bangalore: His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Fr. Vijaya Kumar Rayarala (50), the Regional Superior of the P.I.M.E. as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, 16 July, 2019.
He takes over from Bishop Innayya Chinna Addagatla, who retired on December 12, 2018.
Fr. Vijaya Kumar Rayarala, P.I.M.E., was born in Khammam, on 15 October, 1969. He joined St. John’s Minor Seminary, Nidadavolu, Eluru and then studied Philosophy at Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth, Pune. He continued his studies of Theology and Spirituality in the International Theologate of Pontificio Istituto Missioni Estere (P.I.M.E.) in Monza (Italy) and made his final profession in the P.I.M.E. on 1 October, 1997.
He was ordained priest in the Cathedral of Khammam, on 29 August, 1998. In 2003 he obtained a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from San Luigi University, Naples (Italy).
He served P.I.M.E. in the following ministries:1998-2000: Vocations Animator, St. Xavier’s Institutions, Eluru;2003-2006: Parish Priest, Woodlark, Alotau, Papua New Guinee;2006-2008: Associate Director, Lepers’ Rehabilitation Centre, Bombay;2008-2014: Director, Lepers’ Rehabilitation Centre, Bombay;Since 2014: Regional Superior, P.I.M.E.