ASIA/INDIA - Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On May 6, 2014, the Holy Father, appointed Rev. Telesphore Bilung, S.V.D., currently Provincial Superior of the Divine Word Missionaries, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Ranchi (India), assigning him the titular see of Rutabo.
Rev. Telesphore P. Bilung, S.V.D., was born on April 15, 1961 in Sargidipa, the Diocese of Rourkela, Orissa. He attended primary school and middle school in Gaibira and then high school at the New Orissa High School run by the Divine Word Missionaries. He obtained his Pre-Degree and Graduation at the G.M. College in Sambalpur. In 1979 he attended the Jyoti Bhavan minor Seminary in Sambalpur. In 1985 he entered the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). He professed his first vows in 1986 and his solemn Profession in 1991. Between 1986 and 1992 he completed his studies in Philosophy and Theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeth, in Pune. He holds a BA in Economics, in Philosophy and Theology. From 2005 to 2006 he did a Counselling Course, in Britain. He was a ordained a priest on 2 May 1992, in Gaibira, the Diocese of Rourkela.
After his ordination he has seved in the following pastoral and academic roles: 1992-1994: Assistant parish in Puri; 1994-1996: Rector of the Minor Seminary in Sambalpur; 1997: Course on Formation in India; 1997-2005: Rector of the SVD Formation House in Lungai; Chairman of the Vocation Board; 2005-2006: studies in the UK; 2006-2007: Pastor in Premnagar, Archdiocese of Calcutta; 2007-2010: Pioneer of the Mission in Bezda, Calcutta; 2008-2011: Provincial Councillor; 2010-2011: Rector of the Minor Seminary of the PP. SVD in Lungai; since 2011: Provincial Superior of the Divine Word Missionaries. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 06/05/2014)