Thalassery: Mar Joseph Pamplany was installed as the Archbishop of Thalassery Diocese during the ceremony held in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Thalassery, today. The installation ceremony also honoured the retiring Archbishop Mar George Njaralakatt.
The Ceremony was blessed by Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry. His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the Bishops' Conference of India, inaugurated the public function. His Grace Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal was the guest of honour.
Cardinal Alencherry remarked during the ceremony that Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplani is a perfect model of prophetic courage in his presidential address.
Mar Joseph Pamplany is installed as the fourth Archbishop of Thalassery Archdiocese. The ceremony was held at a specially erected venue in the courtyard of St. Joseph's Cathedral.
Archbishop Emeritus George Valiamattam, Bishop Joseph Kariyil, Bishop Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs of India, V. Muraleedharan, Excise Minister MV Govindan, Minister of Irrigation of Kerala, Roshy Augustine, MP’s K Sudhakaran, Rajmohan Unnithan, John Brittas, MLA’s Sunny Joseph, Ramachandran Kadannapally, KK Shailaja, Sajeev Joseph, KP Mohanan and KB Sumesh People from all walks of life attended the ceremony and felicitated the newly installed Archbishop.
Mar Joseph Pamplany born on December 3, 1969, is the fifth of seven children of the late PD Thomas and Perukkunnel Mary, in Pamplany, Charal Parish, near Irutty. He completed his schooling from Charles St. Sebastian's School and St. Thomas High School, Kiliyanthara and his undergraduate degree from Nirmalagiri College, Kuthuparamba.
He joined the Theological Seminary at Thalassery Minor Seminary on August 14, 1988 and completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. He was ordained a priest on December 30, 1997, at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Thalassery by Mar George Valiyamattam.
Mar Joseph Pamplany's call to priesthood was further strengthened by the words of his mother, Mary, that God saw his son's desire to become a priest at a very young age.
The Archdiocese of Thalassery is made up of about three lakh faithful living in Kannur and Kasaragod districts.