Msgr. Antony Valunkal was born on July 26, 1969, in Eroor, near Thrikkakkara, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India. His father, Michael, was a building contractor. His mother, Philomina, was a housewife. Michael and Philomona were blessed with seven children: Varghese, Jessy, Sr. Jansy O. Carm, Yesudas, Joseph, Bp. Antony, and Gracy. Their family comes from St. George’s Parish, Eroor, in the Archdiocese of Verapoly. He attended K.M.L.P. School, Eroor for elementary and St. Rita’s Ponnurunni for secondary education. Later, in 1984, he joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Kalamassery. After a year of initiation he did his pre-degree course in Economics at St. Paul’s College Kalamassery, he was sent to St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye, for his philosophical studies. Later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Theology from Mangalapuzha Seminary, Alwaye, and received his diaconate in 1993 from Bishop Francis Kallarakkal, the then Bishop of Kottapuram. He was ordained priest on April 11, 1994, by Archbishop Cornelius Elanjikkal of the Archbishop of Verapoly.
Fr. Antony Valunkal was appointed as the Assistant Parish Priest of Little Flower Church, Pottakkuzhy. After two years, he was transferred to St. George’s Church Vadel, where he served as the assistant parish priest for one year. Later, he was appointed as Vice-Rector of Archdiocesan Minor Seminary, Kalamassery, and within a year, he became the Director of Vianney Home Initiation Center, where Fr. Antony Valunkal was an admirable formator for five years. His next assignment was as the Parish Priest of St. George’s Church, Karthedom, in the island of Vypin, where he was entrusted with the task of the construction of the new church. He could fulfill this task within four years and got a new appointment as the Director of St. John Paul Bhavan Minor Seminary in Kakkanad. After three years, he was sent to the Indian Institute of Spirituality in Bangalore for higher studies and obtained a licentiate in Spiritual Theology. Then he was appointed as the Spiritual Director of St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, and, at the same time, priest in charge of two churches in Chowara and Parapuram. Meanwhile, he continued his Doctrinal studies and was awarded a Doctorate in Spiritual Theology from St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute Bangalore on the topic “Mystical Dimension of Priestly Formation” with regard to the spiritual insights of Rev. Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen, who is a Dutch Catholic priest. Since 2021, he has been Rector and Parish Priest of the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom Vallarpadom, Ernakulam.
He was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly on May 11, 2024.
Episcopal motto : “Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mt. 20, 28)
Rt. Ver. Msgr. Antony Valunkal
Born : July 26, 1969
Priestly Ordination : April 11, 1994
Episcopal Nominatio : May 11, 2024
Address : Latin ArchBishop’s House
Post Box: 2581, Cochin – 682031
Kerala, India.
Phone : 0484 2372892
E-mail : antonyvalungal@gmail.com