ASIA/INDIA - The Pope appoints Bishop of Vellore

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 11 July 2006, appointed Bishop of Vellor Kumbo (India ) Rev. Soundaraj Periyanayagam, S.D.B., until now rector of the Don Bosco Orphanage at Katpadi, Gandhi Nagar.
The Bishop elect was born on 6 June 1949 at Periya Kolappalur in the Dalit Community, district of Tiruvannamlai, diocese of Vellore. After attending local schools he became a Salesian aspirant at Tirupattur and completed his novitiate in Yercaud (1969-1970). He made his first vows as a member of the Salesian Society on 24 May 1970. He was ordained a priest on 25 June 1983 at Eursham, Manchester, England, for the Salesian mission.
Since then he has ministered as follows: 1983-1988: vice rector, professor of Economics, director of students’ house at Sacred Heart College (Arts & Science) at Tirupattur, diocese of Vellore; 1988-1999: Studies for a doctorate in Economics at St. Joseph's College in Tiruchirapalli; 1991-1994: vice rector, professor at Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur; 2000-2004: Vicar Foraine and parish priest of the Lourdes Shrine, Permabur, in Madras; since 2004 rector of Don Bosco Boys' Home at Katpadi, Gandhi Nagar, a complex which includes an orphanage and a school; he is also a member of the college of advisors.
The diocese of Vellore, created in 1952, is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore. It has an area of 12,265sq km, a population of 9,675,750 including 155,700 Catholics gathered in 82 parishes, assisted by 155 priests (120 diocesan and 35 religious), 55 brothers, 645 women religious, 57 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/7/2006; Righe 16; Parole 184)