His Holiness Pope Paul VI of illustrious memory by the bull “Nos Beati Petri Successores” of 26th February 1977, separated the eastern part of the Catholic Archdiocese of Changanacherry and erected the new Eparchy of Kanjirapally, as a suffragan of the same Archdiocese. The six foranes namely Kanjirapally, Anakkara, Erumely, Kattappana, Mundakayam and Upputhara formed the new Eparchy. On the same day, His Holiness appointed Mar Joseph Powathil, the Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry, as the Bishop of the new Eparchy. On 12 May 1977, Mar Antony Padiyara, Archbishop of Changanacherry officially published the Papal bull in St. Dominic’s Cathedral Kanjirapally and Mar Joseph Powathil took charge as the first Bishop. He served the Eparchy up to 17 January 1986 and then he was installed as the Archbishop of Changanacherry.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II nominated Very Rev. Dr. Matthew Vattackuzhy who was Administrator of the Eparchy from 18th January 1986, the new Bishop of Kanjirapally on 20th December 1986 and the Episcopal Ordination took place on 26th February 1987 at St.Mary’s Old Church, Kanjirapally. He served the Eparchy till his retirement on 8th February 2001. On 19th January 2001 His Holiness Pope John Paul II nominated Rev. Fr. Mathew Arackal, the vicar of St. Mary’s Church, Elappara and the then Executive Director of P.D.S., the third Bishop of Kanjirapally, and his Episcopal Ordination took place on 9th February 2001 at St. Dominic’s Cathedral, Kanjirapally.

Taking into account the mounting responsibilities of the Eparchy, Mar Mathew Arackal requested for an auxiliary bishop and the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church elected Rev. Dr. Jose Pulickal as Auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy of Kanjirapally on January 12, 2016. His Episcopal Consecration took place on February 4, 2016 at St. Dominic’s Cathedral, Kanjirapally. Following the resignation of Mar Mathew Arackal having attained the canonical age of retirement, Mar Jose Pulickal, the auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy was elected as the bishop of the Eparchy by the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Major archiepiscopal Church. The official proclamation of the appointment was made on January 15, 2020 at Vatican and Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. His Episcopal enthronement as the Bishop of Kanjirapally was held on February 3, 2020 and he took office on the same day.

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