Bangalore: His Holiness, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Most Rev Stephen Athipozhiyil (75) from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Alleppey, Kerala and has appointed Most Rev James Raphael Anaparambil (57), till now Coadjutor Bishop, as the new Bishop of Alleppey. This ecclesiastical succession was made public in Rome on Friday 11 October 2019, at noon local time, corresponding to 15.30 hours, Indian Standard Time.
Bishop Stephen Athipozhiyil was born on 18 May 1944, in Alleppey He was ordained a priest at Mount Carmel Cathedral, by Bishop Michael Arattukulam on 5 October 1969. He served as prefect of the diocesan minor seminary and as a parish priest in Omanappuzha. After earning an MA in philosophy from University College, Trivandrum, in 1982, he was appointed rector of the minor seminary and manager of Leo XIII high school. He was also the teaching staff of St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. He also served the diocese as a diocesan consultor and also as executive director of the dioceses social welfare society.
He was appointed coadjutor bishop with right of succession on 16 November 2000 at the age of 56. He was ordained Bishop 11 February 2001, and he succeeded Bishop Peter M. Chenaparampil on 9 December 2001 as Bishop of Alleppey. He is a priest for 50 years and Bishop for 18 years.
