Archbishop Francis Kallarakal installed as Archbishop of Verapoly

VERAPOLY, Apr. 12, 2010, 11:00 Hrs (CBCI News):

Most Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarakal installed as Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly with canonical solemnities and rituals officiated by His Eminence Most Rev. Dr. Telesphore Placidus Cardinal Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi and former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. The two hour long ceremony comprised of installation, concelebrated Pontifical Holy Mass and felicitation began at 4pm in the specially erected venue on the sprawling St. Albert‘s Higher Secondary School grounds, Ernakulam on Sunday 11th April 2010.

The installation ceremonies had begun with Holy Mass in English. After the introductory rites and remarks, the Papal bull I.e.; the official appointment letter from Rome was read. Then the chief celebrant led the Archbishop to the archi-episcopal throne and handed over the crosier (the pastor’s rod) symbolizing his authority as teacher and shepherd. The Holy Mass then continued in Malayalam with the new Metropolitan Archbishop as the principal celebrant. Most Rev. Dr. Soosa M. Pakiam Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum delivered the homily. The liturgical ceremonies concluded with the chanting of “Te Deum”, the thanksgiving hymn in the Latin language. Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop Baselios Mar Cleemis Catholicos and Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath the auxiliary bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, representing the Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil felicitated the new Archbishop. Papal delegate and secretary in charge of the Apostolic Nunciature in India, Msgr. Chiubuike Onyeaghala were also participated in the ceremonies.

Pope Benedict the Sixteenth appointed Dr. Francis Kallarakal, bishop of Kottapuram on 20 January, 2010, to fill the vacant see. The Metropolitan see of the Archdiocese of Verapoly became vacant when its former Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Daniel Acharuparambil passed away on 26 October 2009. Bishop Kallarakal was born to late Mr. Joseph and Brijith Kallarakal on 10 October 1941 at Kottapuram. He joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Ernakulam in 1956. After completing pre-degree course from St. Albert’s College Ernakulam, he joined St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Aluva for pursuing studies in philosophy. He completed his theology course from Urbaniana Propaganda College in Rome and was ordained priest on 29th June 1968 for the Archdiocese of Verapoly. He also holds a Post Graduation from Fairfield University USA. Bishop Francis served from 1968 - 1970 the assistant vicar at Pius X Church, Fairfield, USA, 1970 - 1971 assistant vicar at Cruz Milagris Church Kurisinkal of the Verapoly Archdiocese, 1971 - 1978 Secretary to Archbishop of Verapoly, 1978 - 1986 Director of Social Service of Archdiocese of Verapoly, 1986 - 1987 One of the Directors of St. John's Hospital, Bangalore and Chairman - Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF) of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council.

Archbishop Dr. Kallarakal is the 24th Ecclesiastical Leader of the Verapoly, which is the mother diocese of all other dioceses in Kerala, irrespective of the Rites from 1659 December 3rd onwards. He is the 8th Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese, which was eructed on September 1st 1886 by His Holiness Pope Leo XIII through his apostolic letter “Humanae Salutis Auctor” and the 5th indigenous Archbishop of the Archdiocese.