Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Fr Antony Valumkal (55) as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, Kerala. Currently he is the Rector and Parish Priest of the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadom, Kochi.
Fr Antony Valumkal was born on 26 July 1969 in Eroor, in the Archdiocese of Verapoly. He studied Philosophy and Theology at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Alwaye, Kerala. He was ordained a priest on 11 April 1994 for the same Archdiocese.
He held the following positions and carried out further studies: Assistant Parish Priest of Little Flower in Pottakuzhy (1994-1996); Director of the Archdiocesan Minor Seminary (1997-2004); parish priest of St George in Karthedom (2004-2007); Director of St John Paul Bhavan Minor Seminary in Kakkanad (2007-2010); Licentiate and Doctorate in Spiritual Theology at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute in Bangalore, India; Spiritual Director of St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Alwaye and in charge of two churches in Chowara and Parapuram of Thottakattukara Parish (2013-2021). Since 2021 he has been Rector and Parish Priest of the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom Vallarpadom, Kochi.
