New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has appointed Rev. Dr. A. Sebastian as the Secretary of the CBCI Office for Doctrine. The official announcement was made during the 149th Standing Committee meeting of the CBCI.
Dr. A. Sebastian, a distinguished theologian and educationist, has made significant contributions to priestly formation and theological scholarship within the Indian Church. Ordained on 25th March 1990, he began his ministry as an Assistant Priest at Birabhanti Parish and soon transitioned into seminary formation. With over two decades of dedicated service in this field, he has held several prominent positions, including Vice-Rector and Resident Professor at St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary, Allahabad, where he currently serves as Rector. He also served two terms (eleven years) as Rector of St. Francis Xavier’s Regional Seminary (Philosophate), Agra-Rajasthan, and spent two years as Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary in Varanasi.
His academic credentials include a Doctorate in Systematic Theology (Christology) from the Pontificia Università Urbaniana, Rome; an M.Th. from Vidya Jyoti, Delhi; and master’s degrees in both Hindi Literature and Indian Classical Music. Fr. Sebastian has taught theology in numerous seminaries and theological institutes across India, including CMI Theologate, Rishikesh; Premalaya (SVD), Bhopal; Christnagar (IMS), Varanasi; Khristo Jyoti Institute, Sambalpur; and Nav Sadhana, Varanasi.
Beyond academics, he has also served in various leadership and pastoral capacities, including as Director of Maitri Bhavan (an interreligious dialogue centre), Secretary for the Regional Yesu Milan Satsang, and Bishop’s Secretary in the Diocese of Jaipur.
Fr. Sebastian is also a prolific retreat preacher and a composer of devotional hymns. He has authored two theological books and numerous scholarly articles. His ministry is marked by deep intellectual engagement, spiritual leadership, and cultural sensitivity.