VARGHESE CHAKKALAKAL- NEW BISHOP OF CALICUT DIOCESE

VARGHESE CHAKKALAKAL- NEW BISHOP OF CALICUT DIOCESE

Bishop Mar Varghese Chakkalakal was officially installed as the sixth bishop of the diocese of  Calicut t at a solemn function on Sunday,10^th June,2012..The three-hour long ceremony was witnessed by a huge gathering of priests, nuns, prominent personalities and thousands of believers. The installation rite started off at 3.30pm with the bishop was ceremoniously led to the bishop Paul Perini Nagar (St Joseph's Church) in a procession. Fr Jerome Chingathara, chancellor of the Calicut diocese, read the apostolic mandate from Pope Benedict XVI  inting Varghese Chakkalakal as the new bishop.

Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio in India and principal prelate in charge of the installation ceremony, led the bishop to the ceremonial chair and handed over the crosier (pastoral staff). Varghese Chakkalakal then led the eucharistic celebration. Francis Kallarakal, archbishop of Verapoly and Joseph Kalathiparambil, secretary, pontifical council for pastoral care of migrants and itinerant peoples at Vatican, were the chief con-celebrants. The ceremony ended with the proclamation of the word by archbishop of Trivandrum Latin, Soosa Pakiam.The public meeting held to felicitate the new bishop was inaugurated by Union minister of state for food and consumer affairs K V Thomas. Pennacchio inaugurated the 90th anniversary celebrations of the diocese of Calicut at the function.

Kozhikode: Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal was officially installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Calicut at a solemn function marked by piety and reverence on Sunday The three-hour long ceremony was witnessed by a huge gathering of priests, nuns, prominent personalities and thousands of believers.The installation rite started off at 3.30 pm with the bishop was ceremoniously led to the Bishop Paul Perini Nagar (St. Joseph's Church) in a procession.Fr Jerome Chingathara, chancellor of the Calicut diocese, read the Apostolic mandate from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Varghese Chakkalakal as the new bishop.Rev. Dr Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio in India and Principal Prelate in charge of the installation ceremony, led the bishop to the ceremonial chair and handed over the crosier (pastoral staff).Varghese Chakkalakal then led the Eucharistic celebration as the main celebrant. Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarakal, Archbishop of Verapoly, and Rev. Dr. Joseph Kalathiparambil, Secretary, Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples at Vatican, were the Chief con-celebrants. The ceremony ended with the Proclamation of the Word by Archbishop of Trivandrum Latin, Rev. Dr. Soosa Pakiam.Earlier Varghese Chakalakal, who was the  Bishop of Kannur prior to his new assignment, was accorded a reception at the district's border at Mahe and taken to the city in a procession of vehicles.

The public meeting held to felicitate the new bishop was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs, K.V. Thomas. Apostolic Nuncio, Rev. Dr.Salvatore Pennacchio  inaugurated the 90th anniversary celebrations of the erection of the Diocese of Calicut at the function. Bishop of Thamarasserry, Mar Remegios Inchananiyil, Provincial Superior of the Kerala Jesuits, Rev. Fr. Joseph Kallepalil, Provincial Superior of Sisters of Charity (SCCG), Sister Mercy Varghese and Prof Antony Fernandez offered felicitations at the function.

Prof. John Kurakar