By Verghese V Joseph –
Salem: The episcopal consecration of Bishop-elect of Salem Diocese, Monsignor Arulselvam Rayappan, will be held at Infant Jesus Cathedral, Arisipalayam in Tamil Nadu’s Salem city on Wednesday (August 4) at 5.00 p.m. The event will also be telecast live on Lourdes TV.
His Eminence, Cardinal and Archbishop of Mumbai, Oswald Gracias, is the Principal Consecrator. The Co-consecrators will be Bishop Emeritus of Salem Diocese Most Rev. (Dr) S Singaroyan and Bishop of Dharmapuri Most Rev (Dr) Lawrence Pius. The Homily will be shared by Most Rev (Dr) Susaimanickam.
On May 31 this year, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Rayappan, of the Clergy of Pondicherry-Cuddalore, as Bishop of Salem. This provision was made public in Rome. The last position Monsignor Rayappan held was as Professor and Director of the Centre for Canon Law Studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, and a Judge of the Archdiocesan Tribunal of Pondicherry.
On Tuesday, Bishop-elect Arulselvam Royyappan stepped into Salem Archdiocese and visited the Cathedral dedicated to Infant Jesus. Tomorrow, he will receive the Order of the Bishop and will be the shepherd of the Salem diocese.
Bishop-elect Arulselvam Rayappan was born on 18 November 1960 in Sathipattu, Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore. He completed his studies in the following Institutions: St. Agnes Minor Seminary and St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Cuddalore (1974-1978); Philosophy at Christ Hall Seminary, Madurai (1978-1981); Theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore (1982-1986).
He was ordained priest on 20 May 1986 for the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore. He obtained a Masters in Canon Law from St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore (1990-1992) and Doctorate in Canon Law from Pontificia Università Urbaniana, Rome (1992-1994). He served in the following ministries: Vice-Rector, St. Agnes Minor Seminary, Cuddalore (1986-1988), Asst. Parish Priest at Viriyur and Karaikal (1988-1989), Parish Priest at Kurumbagaram (1989-1990).
After his studies in Rome, since 1994, he has been teaching Canon Law at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore. He was then Director of the Centre for Canon Law Studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore (1996-2001), Vice-Rector, St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore (200-2006), President, St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bangalore (2010-2017), Executive Secretary of CCBI Commission for Canon Law and Legislative Texts (2010-2018). He was President of the Canon Law Society of Tamil Nadu for two terms and Secretary General of Canon Law Society of India for a term. He was President of the Canon Law Society of India for two terms (2013-2017).