Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 28: His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, with the assent of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, has appointed Fr James Patteril CMF as the new Bishop of the Eparchy of Beltangady. He has been serving as the Provincial Procurator of the Würzburg CMF Province in Germany.

Born on 27 July 1962 in Mangaluru to Abraham and Rosamma Patteril, Fr Patteril hails from St Mary’s Church, Battiyal, in the Eparchy of Belthangady. He has four brothers and two sisters. After completing his schooling, he joined Claret Bhavan, Kuravilangad, for priestly formation. He pursued philosophy and theology at St Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bengaluru, making his First Profession on 12 June 1982 and Final Profession on 12 June 1988. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1990.

Fr Patteril holds a Bachelor’s degree from Christ University, Bengaluru, and has undertaken research studies in Pastoral Theology at the Pastoral Theological Institute, Freiburg, Germany. He has served as assistant parish priest in Udane and Shirady parishes in Beltangady and later ministered to the Syro-Malabar community in Würzburg, Germany.

Fluent in Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu, English, and German, Fr Patteril brings with him rich pastoral, academic, and administrative experience to his new mission as shepherd of the Belthangady Eparchy.