Bishop John Panamthottathil

Bishop John Panamthottathil CMI was born on May 31, 1966, in the Parish of Peravoor in the Archeparchy of Tellicherry, Kerala, India.

After completing his school education, Bishop John joined the St. Thomas Kozhikode Province of the CMI as an aspirant at Koodathai. He then went on to complete his Novitiate at Marikkunnu and pursued his studies in Philosophy and Theology at Dharamaram College. As part of his training, he served as a regent in Fathima Hospital, Kalpetta.

Bishop John Panamthottathil made his First Profession in the CMI order in 1986 and later made his Solemn Profession in 1994, which signified his lifelong commitment to the religious order. On December 26, 1997, he was ordained as a priest.

In his pastoral ministry, Bishop John held various positions. He served as an assistant parish priest at Koodaranji Parish in the Eparchy of Thamarassery. He was elected twice as the Provincial Superior of the CMI Kozhikode Province, showing his leadership within the religious order.

Bishop John also gained extensive pastoral experience overseas. He served in the Latin diocese of Nashville, USA, for a short period. Afterwards, he moved to Australia to offer his services in the Archdiocese of Brisbane. During his time in Australia, he served as an assistant parish priest at St. Stephen Cathedral in Brisbane and St. Bernadine Church in Regents Park, Queensland. He also served as the parish priest at Our Lady & St. Dympna’s Church in Aspley, Queensland. Despite ministering in the Latin Church, he actively supported the pastoral needs of the neighboring Syro-Malabar communities.

In 2020, Bishop John returned to India and served as the prior of St. Elias Ashram in Niravilpuzha and as the Parish Priest of St. Elias Parish in the Eparchy of Mananthavady. Additionally, he taught the English language at the Benedictine Ashram Makkiad in Kerala.

On January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Bishop John as the second bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy at Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne. On May 31, 2023, he was ordained as bishop and installed as the bishop of the eparchy by His Beatitude Cardinal George Alencherry.

Bishop Bosco Puthur

The Centre was instituted by the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Bishops at a critical time in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church. Fr Bosco Puthur led the Research Centre from 1999 to 2005 till he was appointed the Rector of the St. Joseph Pontifical Major Seminary of Mangalapuzha, Alwaye (2005-2010). St. Joseph Seminary is one of the largest seminaries in the Catholic world with about 300 seminarians.
As he was terminating his service in the seminary, he was appointed the first Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Church in 2010. His amiable manners and jovial attitudes won him many friends. As the secretary of the Synod of Bishops he did a great service to the church. Bishop Bosco was the Administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church during the interim period after the demise of the Major Archbishop Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil.
Therefore, it was not a surprise when the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Synod decided to propose Bishop Bosco Puthur’s name to the Holy Father as the first Bishop of St. Thomas the Apostle Eparchy of Melbourne for Syro-Malabar, the second Syro Malabar Eparchy outside India. His experience as a pastor and administrator with leadership qualities will stand him in good stead to guide the destinies of this newly erected diocese in Australia. Besides, Bishop Bosco is also appointed Apostolic Visitator to the Syro-Malabar faithful in New Zealand.