REV.FR JACOB MURICKEN APPOINTED THE

REV.FR JACOB MURICKEN APPOINTED  AUXILIARY BISHOP OF PALAI

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Rev. Fr. Jacob Muricken, till now Pastoral Co-ordinator of the Eparchy of Palai, as the Auxiliary Bishop of Palai. This Ecclesiastical Provision was made public in Rome on Friday, 24th August, 2012.Mar Jacob Muricken was consecrated as auxiliary bishop of the Pala diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church at a solemn ceremony held at the St. Thomas cathedral on 30^th September,2012,Monday afternoon.The ceremony commenced with a procession from the parish hall where ecclesiastical leaders of the Church moved along with the bishop-designate into the cathedral.This was followed by the introductory words by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, head of the Pala diocese.

The letter of appointment from Cardinal George Alanchery, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, was read out on the occasion.The ceremony was headed by Archbishop Joseph Perumthottam, head of the Archeparchy of Changanassery, as principal consecrator with Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and Bishop emeritus Joseph Pallickaparambil acting as co-consecrators.Following the consecration, holy mass was celebrated by Bishop Jacob Muricken as the principal celebrant.The ceremony came to a close with the benediction delivered by Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop emeritus of Changanassery.Bishop Muricken was born on 16th June 1963 at Muttuchira.He had his priestly formation at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathur, before his ordination as priest in 1993.Mar Muricken was serving as pastoral coordinator of the Pala diocese when the ecclesiastical provision appointing him auxiliary bishop was made on August 24.

Prof. John Kurakar