New bishop named for Varanasi

Mangalore Today News Network

Varanasi, June 02, 2015: A new bishop has been appointed for Varanasi diocese in Uttar Pradesh, which was without a bishop for two years.

Pope Francis appointed Father Eugene Joseph as bishop of Varanasi on May 30, Saturday. A pries of Varanasi, he was the diocesan administrator since December 2013. 


The diocese was vacant since 2013, when its then bishop Raphy Manjaly was transferred to Allahabad as its bishop.

Bishop-elect Joseph was born on October 18, 1958 in Madurai archdiocese and studied theology in St. Charles seminary in Nagpur as a seminarian of Varanasi diocese.

He was ordained a priest in April 10, 1985, following which he took up several vital ministries in the diocese including serving as parish priest, principal of colleges and rector of diocesan minor seminary.

He holds degrees in education from Gorakhpur University, Masters in English from Mahatma Gandhi K.V. University in Varanasi and Masters in Business Administration from Townsend School of Business, New York. the appointment has been hailed by many.