ASIA/INDIA - Bishop of Buxar appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on April 7, 2009, appointed Fr. Sebastian Kallupura (Senior) of the clergy of the Diocese of Patna, Director of the Bihar Social Forum, as Bishop of Buxar (India).
Fr. Sebastian Kallupura was born on July 14, 1953 in the State of Kerala, in a family of the Siro-Malabar Rite. He carried out primary school studies in his town and in Palai. He later attended St. Joseph's Seminary in Mangalore, St. Albert's College in Ranchi, and the Papal Seminary in Pune. He was ordained on May 14, 1984 for the Archdiocese of Patna. He has since ministered as follows: 1984-1985: Parish Vicar at the mission in Jahanabad; 1985-1986: Parish Vicar in Mokama; 1986-1991: Director of the mission in Sikandra; 1991-1999: Parish Pastor in Mokama; 1999-2000: studies in Spirituality at Adhytma Vidya Pitham, in Bangalore; 2000-2002: Vice-Bursar, and later Bursar of the Archdiocese of Patna; 2002-2003: “DDC Course”; since 2003: Director of the "Seva Kendra" Socio-Economic Development Centre in the Archdiocese of Patna; since 2008:Director of the Bihar Social Forum.
The Diocese of Buxar was erected in 2005 and is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Patna. It covers an area of 11,298 kmq, with 9,743,835 inhabitants (24,956 Catholics), 5 parishes, 25 priests (9 diocesan and 16 religious), 26 religious men, 6 seminarians, and 71 religious women. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/4/2009)