ASIA/INDIA - Appointment of the Bishop of Varanasi

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 30 May 2015 the Holy Father appointed Rev. Eugene Joseph, of the clergy of Varanasi and diocesan administrator as Bishop of the Diocese of Varanasi (India).
The new Bishop of Varanasi was born on 8 October 1958 in the Archdiocese of Madurai. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Charles Seminary, Nagpur, as a seminarian in Varanasi. After his ordination, he obtained a Bachelor in Education at Gorakhpur University, Varanasi, a Masters in English at Mahatma Gandhi KV University, Varanasi, and a Masters in Business Administration at Townsend School of Business, New York, USA. He was ordained a priest on April 10, 1985 for the Diocese of Varanasi.
Since ordination he has served in a number of pastoal and academic roles: 1985-1989: Assistant priest of St. Thomas Parish, Shahganj, and professor at the St. Thomas Inter-College; 1989-1990: Vice Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary; 1990-1997: Principal of St. John Inter-College, Varanasi; 1997-2001: Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Ghazipur; Forane Vicar of Ghazipur Deanery; Principal of St. John Inter-College, Ghazipur; Member of the Governing Board of the Education Society of the Diocese of Varanasi; Member of the Council for Economic Affairs and diocesan Consultor; 2001-2005: Director of the Regional Pastoral Centre of the Regional Episcopal Conference, based in Varanasi, and Principal of the Nav Sadhana College, Varanasi; 2006-2008: Studies for a Master's Degree in Business Administration and Management at the Townsend School of Business of New York, USA; 2008-2012: Diocesan Director of the St. Mary's Hospital, Varanasi, and Director of St. Mary's School of Nursing, Varanasi, which he founded; 2012-2013: Vicar General and Secretary of the Education Society of the Diocese of Varanasi. Since December 2013, diocesan administrator of Varanasi. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 01/06/2015)