Chicago: Mar Joy Alappat has been appointed as the second Bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago. The letter of his appointment from Pope Francis was read by the Chancellor of the Diocese Rev Dr George Danavelil during the Holy Mass at Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Cathedral. The date of induction is to be announced shortly.

Mar Jacob Angadiath, the retiring Bishop, conveyed his wishes and prayers to Mar Joy Alappat who will be succeeding him. Mar Joy Alappat has served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago since 2014. Fr. Thomas Kadukappillil, Vicar of Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Cathedral, presided over the ceremony.

Mar Joy Allapat who hails from Parapookkara Parish of Iringalakuda Diocese, completed his Priestly formation from Iringalakuda Minor Seminary and St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathur. He was ordained as a priest on December 31, 1981. After his ordination, he served enthusiastically in various pastoral initiatives in his Diocese and the Chennai Mission.

He was conferred with Masters in Theology from St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute, Aluva. He has been serving in the US since 1993, as Director of various Mission Centers and Vicar of Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Cathedral. During the course of his mission activities is US, he successfully completed the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Georgetown University in Washington.

Mar Joy Alappat will now serve the Diocese with a wealth of experience that he inherited from his predecessor, Mar Jacob Angadiath, since the past eight years.

The Diocese of Chicago St. Thomas was formed on March 13, 2001. Parishes and Mission Centers were formed under the pastoral leadership of Mar Jacob Angadiath, who was ordained as its first bishop on July 1, 2001. The Cathedral and Diocesan offices were established under his Pastoral care. The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago, established in 2001, is the first diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church outside India.

In accordance with the Canon law, Mar Jacob Angadiath, at the age of 75, submitted his resignation to the Holy Father, which was duly accepted.

The Syro-Malabar faithful in the United States remains indebted to Mar Jacob Angadiath, who prepared the ground, tilled the soil, planted the seeds and grew the Syro-Malabar community in the United States. The great Shepherd of the Diocese, who carries in his heart the stories of hard work and suffering he endured to build a community, can now retire with contentment.