2016-06-25 17:00:00

Pope appoints a new bishop to Guntur Diocese in India


(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Saturday appointed a new bishop to the Diocese of Guntur in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state.  Fr. Bhagyaiah ‎Chinnabathini, a parish priest from the Diocese of Nalgonda, in the neighboring state of Telangana, is the new bishop of Guntur.  The 60-yeaer old priest takes over from Bishop Gali Bali, who has retired.

Fr. Chinnabathini  priest was born on Sept, 19, 1956, at Motakondur-Yadagirigutta Mandal.  After attending the minor seminary of Warangal he pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. ‎John’s Regional Seminary di Hyderabad.  He has a Master’s degree in Literature from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and another Master’s in Education from Annamalai University, Chennai.‎ 

Following his priestly ordination on May 3, 1983, he served Nalgonda Diocese and abroad in various capacities, such as assistant parish priest at St. ‎Mary’s Church, Lingampally (1983-1985); Annunciation Church, Silveru, and Christ the ‎King Church, Jedcherla (1985-1987); Sacred Heart Church, Bhirmaram (1987-1991) and ‎ Holy Rosary Church, Kethepally (1991-1994).  Fr. Chinnabathini also served in Germany as chaplain at Herford (1994-‎‎1995).  Back  in his diocese, he became director of the Kolping Centre and was in charge of the Diocesan Youth Centre. (1995-2002). Subsequently he was appointed parish priest of St. Joseph’s Church, Kodad (2002-2003); assistant parish priest in a parish in England ‎in (2003-2005); parish priest in a parish Germany (2006-2007); parish priest at St. Mary’s ‎Church, Hannover, Germany (2007-2011).  Since 2011, Fr. Chinnabathini has been parish priest at the Infant Jesus Shrine di ‎Miryalaguda, Diocesi di Nalgonda.‎

Guntur Diocese, which Fr. ‎Chinnabathini will be heading soon, is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.  








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