The Shamshabad Diocese, which is going to be the biggest Catholic Diocese in India will be inaugurated on 7th January along with the installation ceremony of its first Bishop His Excellency Mar Raphael Thattil. The arrangements for the most expected ceremony is declared as completed by its coordinators and Hyderabad is all ready for the inauguration of this new Eparchy of Shamshabad. His Eminence Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, will be the chief celebrant for the sacraments and His Eminence Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church will address the faithful gathered for the ceremony.
The ceremony will begin at 9:00 am on 7th January, after which a public meeting would be arranged in CKR & KTR Convention Hall, Belapur, Hyderabad. More than 1000 faithful are expected to join the function, which includes representatives from Rome, major Cardinals across India.
His Lordship Rt. Rev. Raphael Thattil was ordained a priest on 21st December, 1980 and was consecrated a Titular Bishop of Buruni and Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur on 10th April, 2010. He was appointed Apostolic Visitator of the Syro-Malabars residing in India, outside the territorium proprium on 11th January, 2014.This provision was made public in Rome on 10th October, 2017.
