Joseph Raja Rao

Last updated
Bishop

Thelagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, SMM

Bishop - in - Vijayawada
The Right Reverend
ChurchCatholic Church (Societas Mariae Monfortana)
DioceseVijayawada
AppointedDecember 19, 2015 (2015-12-19)
In office2015-
PredecessorPrakash Mallavarapu, RCM
SuccessorIncumbent
Previous post(s)Secretary General and Procurator General of Congregation, Rome (2011-2015)
Orders
OrdinationJune 7, 1980 (1980-6-7)
ConsecrationFebruary 2, 2016 (2016-2-2)
by Salvatore Pennacchio, Thumma Bala, Prakash Mallavarapu
RankBishop
Personal details
Born(1952-03-08)March 8, 1952
Pedda Avutapalli, Krishna district, AP
NationalityFlag of India.svg  India
ParentsSmt. Kamalamma and Sri T. Prabhudas
OccupationPriesthood

Telagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, SMM, is a Roman Catholic prelate; he has been the Bishop in the Diocese of Vijayawada, since 2016. [1] [2]

He was born on 8 March 1952 (in some sources his native name comes last, and in other media sources it's usually omitted). [2] He took Solemn Vows on 31 January 1980 as a Member of Missionaries of the Company of Mary, and on 7 June 1980 was Ordained a Priest in that order. [2] On 19 December 2015, Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Vijayawada, India, and on 2 February 2016, he was Ordained Bishop. [1] [2]

As the bishop whose jurisdiction includes a major Catholic shrine, since 2016, Raja Rao has lead the annual festival that celebrates Mary Matha in Vijaywada. [3] Raja Rao lead the Mass for the annual Gunadala shrine festival in 2023. [4] The prior year's festival had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [5] In 2024, Bishop Raja Rao participated in the celebrations marking the centenary of the Gunadala Mother Mary Shrine in Vijayawada. [6] He also participated in the 2025 Jubilee festivities. [7] [8]

Raja Rao is ex officio a member of the board of the St. John's Regional Seminary.

References

  1. 1 2 "Joseph Raja Rao is bishop of Vijayawada Diocese". The Hans India. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cheney, David M. (25 February 2024). "Bishop Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, S.M.M.: Bishop of Vijayawada, India". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  3. "Devotees throng Mary Matha shrine for fest: The festival began with the holy mass early in the morning performed by Vijayawada Catholic Diocese's new bishop Rev. T. Joseph Raja Rao". Deccan Chronicle. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  4. "Thousands turn up for Gunadala Mary Matha Utsavams in Vijayawada: Bishop Raja Rao, Gunadala Shrine Rector Eleti William Jayaraju and other priests offer 'Samisti Divya Balipuja'". The Hindu. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  5. "The annual three-day Gunadala festival cancelled amid covid surge: In a press release issued here on Saturday, Raja Rao said that every year from February 9 to 11 devotees from across the State gather on Gunadala hill". The New India Express. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  6. Lanka, Venu (1 February 2024). "Centenary Celebrations Begin At Gunadala Mother Mary Shrine" . Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  7. Ilyad, Mohammed (1 February 2025). "Grand Novena prayers begin at Gunadala: Bishop Raja Rao highlights Pope Francis declaring 2025 as a Jubilee Year and the blessings of honoring Mother Mary in God's salvation plan" . Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  8. "Gunadala Mary Matha fest in Vijayawada begins with devotion, thousands visit shrine: Bishop Raja Rao reflected on Pope Francis declaring 2025 as the Jubilee Year, describing the Gunadala Shrine as a place of divine miracles and solace". Express News Service, via New India Express. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.