Fr. Antony Kattiparambil Appointed New Bishop of Cochin

New Delhi, 25 October 2025 (CCBI): His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Antony Kattiparambil as the new Bishop of Cochin. The announcement was made on 25 October 2025. Fifty-five-year-old Fr. Kattiparambil is presently serving as the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Cochin.

 

Born on 14 October 1970 in Mundamveli, Fr. Antony belongs to St. Louis Church, Mundamveli. He is the son of the late Jacob and the late Treesa, and the youngest among seven children, four sisters and two brothers.

 

He completed his schooling at St. Louis School, Mundamveli, and his pre-degree course at Aquinas College, Edacochin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Kerala University and a Bachelor of Philosophy from St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye.

 

Fr. Antony began his priestly formation in 1986 at Mount Carmel Petit Seminary, Fort Cochin, and completed his minor seminary studies in 1990. He pursued philosophical studies at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye (1990–1993), and later moved to Rome for theological formation at the Collegio Urbano (1993–1998). He completed his theological studies at the Università Urbaniana, Rome (1993–1996), and was ordained a priest on 15 August 1998 by Bishop Joseph Kureethara. He also earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Università Urbaniana (1996–1998) and a Licentiate in Canon Law from the same university (2013–2016).

 

After his ordination, Fr. Antony served as Assistant Parish Priest at Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Cochin (1998–2002), and briefly at St. Sebastian’s Church, Thoppumpady (2002). During this period, he also worked as Notary at the Cochin Diocesan Marriage Tribunal (2000–2002).

 

From 2002 to 2006, he was Assistant Director of Cochin E-Land Computer Studies, Perumpadappu. Alongside this role, he directed an IT project for Multidata, Prato, Italy (2002–2005), and ministered as Assistant Parish Priest at Chiesa di San Francesco, Prato (2002–2005).

 

On returning to India, he served as Parish Administrator at St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalanghi (2005–2010). He later continued his pastoral ministry in Italy as Assistant Parish Priest at Sts. Sisinio, Martirio e Alessandro, Brivio, Milan (2010–2013), and at San Pio V, Rome (2013–2016).

 

In 2016, Fr. Antony became Parish Priest of St. Martin’s Church, Kallanchery, where he served until 2021. Since 2023, he has been the Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalam.

 

Within the Diocese of Cochin, Fr. Antony has held several key responsibilities. He has been serving as Judicial Vicar since 2016, Diocesan Contact Person for the Synod (2021–2023), and Episcopal Vicar for the Religious (2023–2024).

 

The Diocese of Cochin became vacant following the resignation of Bishop Joseph Kariyil on 2 March 2024. Bishop James Anaparambil of Alleppey was appointed Administrator on 12 October 2024.

 

The Diocese of Cochin has 1,82,324 Catholics, 134 diocesan priests, 116 religious priests, 545 religious sisters, and 78 parishes.

 

By Dr. Stephen Alathara