New bishop for Oriental Chanda diocese

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Aug 01, 2014:  Pope Francis appointed Father Ephrem Nariculam as the new Bishop prelate of Chanda diocese Syro-Malabar church on July 31, and accepted the resignation of Bishop Vijay Anand Nedumpuram of Chanda diocese .

The new bishop belongs to the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese based in Kerala is the base of this Oriental Church. He has been the chaplain of the Syro-Malabar Community in Toronto (Canada) when appointed bishop.

Bishop Vijay Anand Nedumpuram tendered resignation upon reaching 75, the canonical age of retirement.

Bishop elect Nariculam was born on December 10, 1960 at Sanjopuram in the Archeparchate of Ernakulam-Angamaly, where he was ordained a priest on December 27, 1986.


He completed his ecclesiastical studies at Poonamallee and Bangalore, where he earned a doctorate in Spiritual Theology at Saint Peter’s pontifical Institute. He speaks Hindi and Marathi, in addition to English and Malayalam.

He was a pastor in Ernakulam and Delhi before serving the Eparchy of Chanda, where he was Rector of the Minor Seminary for seven years.   In Canada, he was lecturer at the Toronto School of Theology, coordinator of Toronto Priestly Formation at St. Augustine’s Seminary and chaplain of the Syro-Malabar community.