The Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne has commenced the final preparations for tomorrow’s episcopal ordination of Fr John Panamthottathil CMI.
This event marks a significant milestone, including the installation of the eparchy’s second bishop and a farewell function for the retiring Bishop Bosco Puthur.
The episcopal ordination and installation ceremony are scheduled for tomorrow and will begin with a liturgical procession at 4:45 pm at Our Lady Guardian of Plants Chaldean Catholic Church in Campbellfield in Melbourne’s north.
Fr Panamthottathil will be consecrated and installed by Cardinal George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Charles Balvo, bishops from Australia and India, and many other dignitaries will attend.
The Syro-Malabar faithful from across Australia and Oceania will also join the event to witness this historic occasion.
Following the liturgy, a farewell meeting will honour outgoing eparch Bishop Puthur.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB will officiate the release of a souvenir booklet commemorating Bishop Bosco’s service to the Eparchy.
Pope Francis appointed Fr Panamthottathil CMI in January 2023 to succeed Bishop Puthur as the bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne.
Originally from Peravoor, Kerala, Fr Panamthottathil has extensive pastoral experience, including services in the Latin Diocese of Nashville, in the US, and the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
The ceremony will be live-streamed on Shalom TV and the Eparchy’s social media networks for those unable to attend in person.
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Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle Melbourne Prepares for the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Rev Fr John Panamathottathil CMI (Syro-Malabar Eparchy
