Bengaluru: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed new bishops for dioceses of Tiruchirappalli in southern state of Tamil Nadu and Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, respectively. This announcement was made in Rome on Tuesday.
While Rev. Fr. Savarimuthu Arokiaraj, of the Clergy of Tiruchirappalli, has been appointed as Bishop of Tiruchirappalli; Monsignor Visuvasam Selvaraj, of the clergy of Port Blair, currently Diocesan Administrator of the same See, has been elevated as Bishop of the Diocese of Port Blair.
Rev. Fr. Savarimuthu Arokiaraj was born on 24th October, 1954 in Lalapettai, Diocese of Tiruchirappalli. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore (1973-1980). He was ordained priest on 8th January, 1981, for the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli.
He obtained a Doctorate in Liturgy from the Institute Catholique de Paris, France (2002). He served in the following ministries: Asst. Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Church, Dindigul (1981); Parish Priest at Ayyampatty (1981-1986); Parish Priest at P. Udayapatty (1986-1987); Secretary of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission (1988-1991); Regional Secretary for the Liturgy Commission of Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (1991-1994).
He then went for higher studies in France. On his return, he was appointed Secretary of the Liturgy Commission of Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (2002-2008); Diocesan Chancellor and Parish Priest at Subramaniapuram (2009-2012); Diocesan Chancellor and Professor of Liturgy at St. Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirappalli (2012-2015); Parish Priest of the Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli (2015-2016); Rector of St. Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirappalli (2016-2019). Since 2019, he is Rector and Parish Priest of Holy Redeemer’s Basilica, Tiruchirappalli.
Monsignor Visuvasam Selvaraj was born on 4 January 1966 in Raja Annamalaipuram, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Tamil Nadu State). He began his priestly formation in the Minor Seminary of Madras, Santhome. He completed his studies in philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Chennai and those in theology at St. Albert’s College in Ranchi. He was ordained a priest on May 8, 1994 for the Diocese of Port Blair. He obtained a Master in Canon Law from the Pontifical Institute of Saint Peter in Bangalore (1999-2001).
After his priestly ordination he held the following positions: Parish Vicar of the Cathedral (1994-1995); Diocesan Procurator (1995-1998); Parish Vicar in Mayabunder (1998-1999); Director of Diocesan Social Services (2001-2006); Chancellor and Judicial Vicar (2001-2019); Parish priest in Katchal (2006-2010); Pastor of the Cathedral (2010-2013); besides being the Rector of the Sanctuary.
He is a member of the College of Diocesan Consultors, Deputy Financial Administrator and Director of Diocesan Social Services (2013-2015) and was also the Financial Administrator of the Diocese (2015-2017) and Vicar General (2017-2019). Since 2017 he has been in charge of the Christian Communities and for Catechesis and from 2020 until now Diocesan Administrator of Port Blair.