Kochi: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Antony Kattiparambil as the new Bishop of Cochin. The announcement comes after the bishopric had been vacant since March 2024. Fifty-five-year-old Fr. Antony is currently serving as the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Cochin.
Fr. Antony was born on 14 October 1970 in Mundamveli and belongs to St. Louis Church, Mundamveli. He is the youngest of seven children of the late Jacob and Treesa, with 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.
He began his priestly formation in 1986 at Mount Carmel Petit Seminary, Fort Cochin, completing his minor seminary studies in 1990. He pursued philosophical studies at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye (1990–1993), and then 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. Fr. Antony also earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology (1996–1998) and a Licentiate in Canon Law (2013–2016) from the Università Urbaniana.
After ordination, Fr. Antony served in multiple pastoral and administrative roles. He was Assistant Parish Priest at Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Cochin (1998–2002) and briefly at St. Sebastian’s Church, Thoppumpady (2002). During this time, he also served as Notary at the Cochin Diocesan Marriage Tribunal (2000–2002).
From 2002 to 2006, he worked as Assistant Director of Cochin E-Land Computer Studies, Perumpadappu, and directed an IT project for Multidata in Prato, Italy (2002–2005), while ministering as Assistant Parish Priest at Chiesa di San Francesco, Prato (2002–2005). Upon returning to India, he served as Parish Administrator at St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalanghi (2005–2010) and later returned to Italy for pastoral ministry at Sts. Sisinio, Martirio e Alessandro, Brivio, Milan (2010–2013), and San Pio V, Rome (2013–2016). In India, he became Parish Priest of St. Martin’s Church, Kallanchery (2016–2021) and has been serving as Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kumbalam since 2023.
Within the Diocese of Cochin, Fr. Antony has held key responsibilities, including Judicial Vicar (since 2016), Diocesan Contact Person for the Synod (2021–2023), and Episcopal Vicar for the Religious (2023–2024).
The Diocese of Cochin, established in 1557, is a Latin Catholic diocese under the Archdiocese of Verapoly, with its headquarters at Fort Kochi. It has 1,82,324 Catholics, 134 diocesan priests, 116 religious priests, 545 religious sisters, and 78 parishes. The position of bishop became vacant following the resignation of Bishop Joseph Kariyil on 2 March 2024. Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil of Alleppey was appointed Administrator on 12 October 2024.
Fr. Antony Kattiparambil’s appointment brings renewed leadership to the Diocese of Cochin, with his extensive pastoral and administrative experience positioning him to guide the diocese effectively in the coming years.