ASIA/SRI LANKA - Resignation and appointment of bishop of Mannar

Vatican City - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Mannar, Sri Lanka, presented by Bishop Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando.
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Gnanapragasam Anthonypillai, of the clergy of the diocese of Mannar, Sri Lanka, until now administrator of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in Mannar, as bishop of the same diocese.
Msgr. Gnanapragasam Anthonypillai was born on 12 July 1965 in Adampan, in the diocese of Mannar, and studied philosophy and theology at the Saint Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Jaffna.
He was ordained a priest on 7 April 1994, for the clergy of Mannar.
After ordination, he held the roles of parish vicar of Murunkan (1994-1996), secretary to the bishop (1996-1999), parish priest of Cheddikulam (1999-2003), parish priest of Pallimunai (2003-2006), parish priest of Vankalai (2006-2009), rector of the diocesan minor seminary (2014-2018), and parish priest of Saint Sebastian Cathedral (2018-2021) and Pesalai (2021-2023). After obtaining a licentiate in religious education from Fordham University in New York, United States of America (2010-2014), he attended a course in youth pastoral care in India (2022). Since 2023 he has served as administrator of the Our Lady of Madhu National Shrine in Mannar. (Agenzia Fides, 14/12/2024)

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