George Njaralakatt

Mar George Njaralakatt ܡܪܝ ܓܝܘܪܓܝܣ‎
Archbishop Emeritus Tellicherry
Church	Syro Malabar Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Tellicherry
Elected	29 August 2014
In office	30 October 2014 – 15 January 2022
Retired	15 January 2022
Predecessor	George Valiamattam
Successor	Joseph Pamplany
Previous posts	Bishop of Mandya Vicar General Diosece of Bhadravathy
Orders
Ordination	20 December 1971 by Sebastian Vallopilly
Consecration	7 April 2010
Rank	Metropolitan Archbishop
Personal details
Born	(1946-06-23) 23 June 1946 (age 79) Kalayanthani, Thodupuzha, Idukki District, Kerala, India
Residence	Bishop's House, Tellicherry
Education	St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha University of Mysore Pontifical Salesian University, Rome

George Njaralakatt (born 23 June 1946) is an archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church who was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry from 2014 until his retirement on 15 January 2022. ^[1] He was also the first Bishop of the Diocese of Mandya.

Early life

George Njaralakatt was born to Varkey and Mary Njaralakatt on 23 June 1946 at Kalayanthani in Thodupuzha Taluk in Idukki District. His LP School studies were at St. Josephs School, Arakuzha and he completed UP at St. Marys High School near Muvattupuzha. His family migrated to Malabar in 1960 and settled in Nadavayal, Wayanad, where he completed high school studies at St. Thomas High School, Nadavayal. After high school he joined St. Joseph's Minor Seminary Thalasserry, Tellicherry, later on he completed his philosophy and theology at St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Aluva, achieved a BA degree at Mysore University. ^{[2] [3] [4]} He also holds a Licentiate in Catechetical Theology from Salesian Pontifical University, Rome.

Priesthood

After completing college studies, he joined St. Joseph's Minor Seminary in Thalasserry in 1963. He was ordained a priest on 20 December 1971 at Thalassery and worked in various roles in the archdiocese, including a tenure as Vicar General of the Diocese of Bhadravathi. From 2007 to 2010, he was the Vicar of St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha.

As a bishop

Bishop of Mandya (2010–2014)

On 18 January 2010, he was appointed the Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Mandya, in Karnataka and was consecrated on 7 April 2010 at the Infant Jesus Cathedral Church at Hinkal, Mysore. ^[5]

Archbishop of Thalassery (2014–2022)

On 30 October 2014, he was raised as the Archbishop of Archdiocese of Tellicherry at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Tellicherry. ^[6]

References

1. "George Njaralakatt as Archbishop". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
2. "Early life of Bishop George". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
3. "Early life of Bishop George". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
4. "Early life of Bishop George" . Retrieved 26 December 2013.
5. "Ordination details" . Retrieved 26 December 2013.; "George Njaralakatt appointed as Mandya Bishop". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.; "Appointed as Bishop of Mandya". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
6. "Details about Bishop" . Retrieved 26 December 2013.; "Archbishop Mar George Njaralakatt Biography". Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.; "Pope approves appointment of Archbishop of Tellicherry" . Retrieved 13 February 2015.; "Pope approves new archbishop" . Retrieved 13 February 2015.

External links

• Official Website of Archdiocese of Tellicherry
• George Njaralakatt on Catholic-Hierarchy.org