Verghese V Joseph –
Bangalore: In a significant development, Pope Francis has appointed Fr Wilbert Marwein (52) as Bishop of Nongstoin in Meghalaya, North-East India and Fr. James Shekhar (55) as the new Bishop of Buxar, in the northern state of Bihar.
Fr Wilbert Marwein, of the clergy of the same diocese, is currently vicar general and parish priest in Nonbah, a village in Thadlaskein Block in the Jaintia Hills district of North-Eastern state of Meghalaya.
Fr James Shekhar, of the clergy of Patna, is currently the vice-secretary of the Episcopal Council of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Andaman.
In addition, in accordance with Canon 401 § 1 and with immediate effect, the Holy Father has accepted the resignation of His Excellency Most Rev. Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss (75), from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tanjore (Thanjavur) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, from 4th February 2023.
These announcements were made public on Saturday, 4th February, 2023.
Fr. Wilbert was born on February 17, 1970 in Rangblang-Sohsyniang, in the Shillong Archdiocese. After entering St. Xavier’s Minor Seminary in Shillong, he studied Philosophy at Christ the King College and Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong.
Fr. Wilbert was ordained a priest on April 27, 2003, first for the archdiocese of Shillong and then incardinated in the new diocese of Nongstoin.
He has held the following offices and carried out further studies: assistant parish priest at Ummulong (2003-2005); bursar of the Oriens Theological College of Shillong (2005-2007); licentiate in missiology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome (2007-2010); assistant parish priest of Santa Maria in Cosenza, Italy (2010-2015); since 2015, Vicar General and parish priest in Nonbah in Nongstoin.
Fr James Shekhar was born on 23 September 1967 in Singamparai (Tamil Nadu), in the Diocese of Palayamkottai. He attended the Minor Seminary of Muzaffarpur and later the Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Allahabad.
He was ordained a priest on May 26, 1996, and incardinated in the archdiocese of Patna.
Fr James held the following offices and carried out further studies: parish vicar at Mokama (1996-1997); director of youth ministry of the archdiocese and professor at St. Mary ‘s Seminary (1998-2003); Studies for a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (2003-2005); studies for a doctorate in biblical theology at the University of Innsbruck in Austria (2005-2009); secretary to the Archbishop of Patna (2009-2015); since 2015, Deputy Secretary of the Episcopal Council of Bihar, Jharkhand and Andaman.
The retiring, Bishop Devadass Ambrose, was born in the village of Ammapet on 6 October 1947. He received his basic education at Ukkadai Appavu Thevar High School and Pre-University Course at Sri Pushpam College. He joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thanjavur in 1964. He studied philosophy and theology from St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichy. He was ordained priest on 5 August 1974.
Bishop Devadass was the staff at the St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore and the professor of Sacred Scripture. He received his higher education in Biblical Institute, Rome (1980-84) and Catholic University, Paris (1991-94). He received a Diploma in Biblical Studies at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. He was appointed Bishop of on 14 July 1997 and ordained Bishop of 24 September 1997. He was the Apostolic Administrator of Tiruchirappalli from 2018-2021.