Several new bishops have been announced for local churches in India, Canada, and the
United States.
The Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal
Church, meeting at Mount St. Thomas near Kerala, India, with the prior assent of the
Holy Father, has canonically elected Fr. George Madathikandathil as bishop of Kothamangalam
of the Syro-Malabars (area 1,840, population 787,100, Catholics 230,760, priests 282,
religious 2,494), India. The bishop-elect was born in Purapuzha, India in 1956 and
ordained to the priesthood in 1980. He taught Canon Law at the St. Thomas Pontifical
Seminary of Vadavathor, where he also served as vice-rector and then rector. He is
currently pastor of St. Mary's Church in Arakuzha. He succeeds Bishop George Punnakottil,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same eparchy the synod accepted, in
accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
Also
on Thursday it was announced that the Holy Father has appointed Fr. Marwan Tabet,
M.L., as bishop of the eparchy of Saint-Maron de Montreal of the Maronites (Catholics
85,000, priests 20, religious 15), Canada. The bishop-elect was born in Bhamdoun,
Lebanon in 1961, entered the Congregation of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries in
1980, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986. He succeeds Bishop Joseph Khoury,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same eparchy the Holy Father accepted
in accordance with canon 210 para. 1 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
Finally,
Pope Benedict has appointed Bishop Oscar Cantu as bishop of the diocese of Las Cruces
(area 115,166, population 532,000, Catholics 140,200, priests 81, permanent deacons
38, religious 82), USA. Bishop Cantu, previously titular of Dardano and auxiliary
of San Antonio, was ordained to the priesthood in 1994 and received episcopal ordination
in 2008. In the national bishops' conference he currently serves on the committees
on Catholic Education, International Justice and Peace, and Protection of Children
and Young People, as well as the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs. He succeeds Bishop
Ricardo Ramirez C.S.B., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese
the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.