Verghese V Joseph –
His Holiness Pope Francis on Saturday appointed Rev. Fr. Sagayaraj Thamburaj, until now Professor at St. Paul’s Seminary at Tiruchirappalli as the Bishop of Tanjore and two distinguished priests Rev. Dr. Arokiaraj Satis Kumar and Rev. Fr. Joseph Soosainathan as Auxiliary Bishops of Bengaluru.
The Holy Father has appointed Auxiliary Bishops for the Archdiocese of Bangalore, of the clergy of the same Metropolitan See: the Rev. Fr. Arokia Raj Satis Kumar, until now Diocesan Chancellor, assigning him the titular See of Castel Minor in United Kindom and Rev. Fr. Joseph Soosainathan, until now Parish Priest of Sacred Heart, assigning him the titular See of Castra di Galb in Africa Proconsular.
Rev. Thamburaj Sagayaraj
Rev. Thamburaj Sagayaraj was born on March 14, 1969, in Ayyampatty, Tiruchirappalli. He was ordained a priest on April 17, 1996, for the diocese of Tiruchirappalli. He studied philosophy and Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary, Poonamallee, Chennai. He obtained a Ph. D. in Christian Studies from University of Madras, Chennai.
After his priestly ordination, Sagayaraj Thambraj was Assistant Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli (1997-2004); Parish Priest in Marianathapuram, Dindigul (1997-2004); Associate Director, Triuchirappalli Multipurpose Social Service Society (2004-2007); Secretary of Priests’ Senate (2001-2007); Secretary of SC/ST Commission, Dindigul Episcopal Vicariate (2002-2004); Secretary of SC/ST Commission, Tririchirappalli (2004-2009); Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and Coordinator of the pastoral Commissions and Convenor of the Diocesan Pastoral Council (2007-2012); Member of the College of Consultors and the Diocesan Finance Committee (2001-2007 and 2012-2017); PARISH Priest and Vicar Forane. Manapparai (2012-2017); Rector and Parish Priest, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli (2017-2023). Since 2023 until now he is Member of the Faculty of Theology, St. Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirappalli and President of the Tamilnadu Systamatic Theologians Forum.
Rev. Joseph Soosainathan as Auxiliary Bishop of Bangalore
Rev. Joseph Soosainathan of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and currently Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Road.
Rev. Joseph Soosainathan was born on 14 May 1964 in Bangalore and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Bangalore on May 15, 1990. He obtained Master’s Degree in Sociology. He served the Archdiocese as parochial vicar of St. John’s Church, Briand Square and St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Bangalore (1990-1994), Parish Priest of St. Anne’s Church, Marathalli (1994-1998), and Diocesan Director for YCS/YSM (1994-2005), Parish Priest of St. John Evangelist Church, Chinnappa Garden (1998-2004) and of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Jalahalli (2004-2010). From 2005 to 2015, he was the Diocesan Secretary for the Pontifical Mission Societies. He was Parish Priest of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Rayarpuram (2010-2016) and of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Hoskote (2016-2018). From 2019, he has been the Ecclesiastical Advisor for World Apostolate of Fatima for the Archdiocese of Bangalore. From 2022, he has been Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Town, Bangalore.
Rev. Arokia Raj Satis Kumar as Auxiliary Bishop of Bangalore
Rev. Arokia Raj Satis Kumar of the clergy of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and currently Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and Professor at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, is appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Bangalore.
Rev. Arokia Raj Satis Kumar was born on September 5, 1977 in Bangalore, and was ordained a priest on May 2, 2007 for the Archdiocese of Bangalore. He obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. He served the Archdiocese as Assistant Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Briand Square (2007-2008), Notary of the Metropolitan Tribunal (2007-2013), Assistant Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Bangalore (2008-2010), Parish Priest of Christ the King Church, Malleswaram (2012-2014) and Vicar Forane of Jallahalli (2013-2014). Then he went to Rome for his studies (2014-2017). On his return, he was appointed parochial administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Tumkur (2017-2018), Rector of the Minor Seminary and Secretary of the Commission for Vocations and formation of Altar boys and girls (2021-2023). Since 2018, he has been Coordinator of the Major Seminarians’ Studies and Visiting Professor at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore; since 2020 also Resident Professor at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore.
Welcoming the announcement, Most Rev Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, “It’s with great joy and gratitude to God, we announce that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed two distinguished Priests of our Archdiocese as Auxiliary Bishops of Bangalore. With gratitude to God, we accept these two brother Priests, Rev. Fr. Arokiaraj Satis Kumar and Rev. Fr. Joseph Soosainathan as Auxiliary Bishops of the Archdiocese of Bangalore.”
“As we welcome Rev. Fr. Arokiaraj Satis Kumar and Rev. Fr. Joseph Soosainathan to their new roles as Auxiliary Bishops, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and prayers to them. May the Holy Spirit guide them in their ministry, and may their leadership and dedication continue to inspire and strengthen our Archdiocese. Let us keep them in our prayers as they embark on this new journey of service to God and His people,” he added.