By Verghese V Joseph –
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, on Saturday accepted the renunciation of Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel, SDB from the pastoral government of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai in Tamil Nadu (India), and has appointed His Grace Most Rev. Antony Pappusamy, Metropolitan Archbishop of Madurai as Apostolic Administrator Sede Vacante of Kuzhithurai.
Bishop. Jerome Dhas Varuvel SDB, 63 years, was the first bishop of the newly erected diocese of Kuzhithurai. At the time of his appointment, Bishop-elect Jeromedhas was the Master of Novices of the Chennai Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Born on 21 October 1951 at Kallutharai, in Kanyakumari district, in the diocese of Kottar, he completed his High School from Carmel School, Nagercoil in 1965 and therafter did his Pre-University Course at the Scott Christian College in Nagercoil, before joining the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary (1968-1970) at Nagercoil, as a candidate for the diocese of Kottar. He did his philosophical studies at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai (1970-73. Thereafter, he did his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Arulanadar College, Karumathur (1973-76) before joining the Salesian Novitiate at Yercaud in 1977. He made his first profession on 24 May 1978.
His theological studies were done at the Salesian Pontifical University (1981-85). He was ordained a priest on 2 June 1985 by St. John Paul II at the Vatican. After his priestly ordination, the bishop elect completed his Masters degree in Pedagogy from the Salesina Pontifical University before returning to India. As a priest he held the following responsibilities in the Province of Chennai: Vice-Rector of the Salesian Novitiate at Vellakinar, Coimbatore (1986-1990); Rector of the Pre-novitiate at Tirupattur (1990-1992), and Rector of the Pre-Novitiate at Pallithammam; Dean of the Salesina Studentate at Tiruchy (1994-1996); and Rector and Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Co-Cathedral, Chennai; Provincial Councillor (2001-2002); Director of the Educational Ministry of the Province ofChennai (2003-2010); Director of Don Bosco Mission at Thalavadi (2010) and Master of Novices (2010). At the time of his appointment as Bishop he was the Master of Novices of the Chennai Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco. He is a priest for 35 years and Bishop for 5 years.
Bishop Antony Pappusamy was born on 1 October 1949 in Marambadi, Tamil Nadu. He completed his high school education from R.C. Higher Secondary School, Trichy and also did a Courses on Latin and Initiation from St. Peter’s Seminary, Madurai. He completed his graduation from St Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli. He completed his studies in Theology and Philosophy from St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichy. He is an alumnus of Pontifical Lateran University and has acquired a Diploma in Spirituality from Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Bishop Antony was ordained a Catholic priest on 7 July 1976 and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Madurai and Titular Bishop of Zaba on 5 November 1998 and ordained a Bishop on 4 February 1999. He was appointed Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Dindigul on 10 November 2003. He was appointed Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai on 26 July 2014 by Pope Francis. He also chairs Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council’s commission for Clergy and Religious.
Earlier, he replaced Bishop Jude Gerald Paulraj as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Palayamkottai on 29 June 2018 by Pope Francis.