Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 2 December, accepted the pastoral government of the diocese of Chikmagalur (India), presented by Bishop John Baptist Sequeira, in conformity with the Code of Canon Law 401 § 1. The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Anthony Swamy Thomasappa, new Bishop of Chikmagalur (India) a member of the clergy of Bangalore, until now Rev Thomasappa was Professor at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore.
Rev. Anthony Swamy Thomasappa, was born on 9 February 1951, at Mariannapalaya, suburb of Bangalore, in Karnataka. He attended school in the village and then in Bangalore, going on to university for a few years. In 1970 he entered Propaedeutic Seminary in Mysore. In 1973 he entered St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore and in his own parish church on 20 May 1984 he was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Bangalore. Since then he has ministered as follows: 1984-1988: assistant priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Ulsoor, Bangalore; 1988-1990: parish priest at Resurrection Church, Bangalore; 1990-1992: parish priest St. Theresa's Church, J.C. Road, Bangalore; since 1992: Professor at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, director of Kannada Sangha Academy, in charge of seminary publications; 1994-1997: Studies for doctorate in theology at Gregorian University, Rome. A member of the council of advisors of the archdiocese of Bangalore; pastoral service on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation at St. Anne's Mission Station, Mestripalaya. Since 2003 director of the Department of Missiology.
The Diocese of Chikmagalur created in 1963is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. It has an area of 14, 015 sq km, a population of 2,984,422 including 37,397 Catholics, gathered in 34 parishes, assisted by 72 priests (52 diocesan and 20 religious), 22 Brothers, 244 Sisters, and there are 4 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/12/2006; Righe 24; Parole 330)
