ASIA/INDIA - Bishop of Cuddapah appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 31 January 2008, appointed as Bishop Cuddapah (India) Rev. Prasad Gallela, of the clergy of Kurnool, presently spiritual director and professor of philosophy at St. John’s Regional Seminary in Kondadaba (India).
Rev. Prasad Gallela was born on 7 April 1962 in the village of Adoni, diocese of Kurnool. After attending St. Pius Minor Seminary in Kurnool, he studied at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad. He was ordained a priest on 1 March 1989 for the diocese of Kurnool. Since then he has ministered as follows: 1989 - 1993: youth and vocations director; 1989 - 1990: Head of St. Mary’s Junior College Hotel; 1990 - 1995: assistant priest at Koilakuntla; 1993 - 1995: Legion of Mary Spiritual Director; 1995 - 1999: Studies for a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas, in Rome; 1999 - 2000: pastoral service at Uppaladadiya; 2000 - 2004: pastoral service in the diocese of San Angelo (Texas, USA); since 2004: spiritual director at St. John’s Regional Seminary, Kondadaba and Kurnool diocesan advisor and member of the council of priests.
The diocese of Cuddapah, suffragan of the archdiocese of Hyderabad, was created in 1976. It has an area of 15,539sq km., and a population of 6,035,581 of whom 81,580 are Catholics, gathered in 51 parishes, assisted by 85 diocesan priests and 19 religious priests, 75 Brothers and 280 women religious and there are 72 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/1/2008; Righe 18; Parole 248)