June 13, 2013: Pope Francis on Thursday, appointed Rev.Dr. Jaya Rao Polymera, of
the Diocese of Warangal, as the bishop of the Diocese of Eluru, in Andhra Pradesh,
South India.
The Rev.Dr. Jaya Rao Polymera, was born August 27, 1965 at Dharmasagar,
Diocese of Warangal. He attended primary school in Dharmasagar, and was then in the
Seminary of St. Pius X Fatimanagar. It was sent to the preparatory year at St. Paul's
Seminary in Nuzvid and, later, to the Board of Vijayawada. He completed his studies
in philosophy and theology and his preparation for the priesthood at St. John's Regional
Seminary, Hyderabad. He obtained a B.A. in English Literature, a B.A. in Civil Law
and a Masters in Organizational Leadership & Culture & Communication at the High Siena
University (USA). He was ordained a priest on 2 April 1992 in Fatimanagar, and is
incardinated in the same diocese of Warangal.
After ordination he held the
following positions: 1992-1994: Assistant parish priest at Dacharam; 1994-1997:
Parish Priest in Dornakal; 1998-2003: Assistant parish Priest of St. Philip Parish,
Diocese of Kalamazoo (USA); 2003-2009: Pastor of the Cathedral; Since 2009:
Director of the Diocesan Youth Centre, a member of the College of Consultors, the
Priests' Council and the Diocesan Tribunal.
The Diocese of Eluru (1976), suffragan
of the Archdiocese of Vijayawada, has an area of 6,800 square kilometers and a population
of 8,300,000 inhabitants, of whom 315,157 are Catholics. There are 110 parishes served
by 226 priests (111 diocesan and 115 religious), 637 religious brothers, 655 sisters
and 79 major seminarians. The Diocese of Eluru, has been vacant since August 16, 2009,
following the death of the Ordinary, SE Archbishop John Mulgada.
The Holy
Father on Thursday also made an appointment of a Bishop for the Jullundur Diocese
in North India. Bishop Franco Mulakkal, until now titular Bishop of Chullu and Auxiliary
Bishop of Delhi has now been appointed bishop of Jullundur.