George Njaralakatt

Syro-Malabar Catholic Archbishop in India October 2015 October 2015 Mar George Njaralakattܡܪܝ ܓܝܘܪܓܝܣ Archbishop Emeritus Tellicherry archbishop_njaralakatt.jpg Archbishop Mar George Valiamattam Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany 20 December 1971 7 April 2010 Metropolitan Archbishop yes 1946 6 23 Kalayanthani, Thodupuzha, Idukki District, Kerala, India Bishop's House, Tellicherry Tellicherry Syro Malabar Catholic Church 15 January 2022 Mar Sebastian Vallopilly St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, MangalapuzhaUniversity of MysorePontifical Salesian University, Rome 29 August 2014 30 October 2014 – 15 January 2022 Bishop of MandyaVicar General Diosece of Bhadravathy Mar George Njaralakatt (born 23 June 1946) is an archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. He served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry from 2014 until his retirement on 15 January 2022.http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/new-archbishop-installed-114103001443_1.html George Njaralakatt as Archbishop 30 October 2014 Business Standard India 30 October 2014 Press Trust of India He was also the first Bishop of the Diocese of Mandya. Known for a pastoral style often described as "lovely, paternal, and approachable," he played a significant role in organizing the migrant Syro-Malabar community in Karnataka and revitalizing catechetical formation in India. Early life George Njaralakatt was born to Varkey and Mary Njaralakatt on 23 June 1946 at Kalayanthani in Thodupuzha Taluk in Idukki District. His LP School studies were at St. Josephs School, Arakuzha and he completed UP at St. Marys High School near Muvattupuzha. His family migrated to Malabar in 1960 and settled in Nadavayal, Wayanad, where he completed high school studies at St. Thomas High School, Nadavayal. After high school he joined St. Joseph's Minor Seminary Thalasserry, Tellicherry, later on he completed his philosophy and theology at St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Aluva, achieved a BA degree at Mysore University.http://www.mandyadiocese.org/home/inner/34 Early life of Bishop George 26 December 2013 14 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131214200441/http://www.mandyadiocese.org/home/inner/34 dead http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/bishop.php?id=21 Early life of Bishop George 26 December 2013 27 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131227103825/http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/bishop.php?id=21 dead http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/mand2.htm Early life of Bishop George 26 December 2013 He also holds a Licentiate in Catechetical Theology from Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Priesthood After completing college studies, he joined St. Joseph's Minor Seminary in Thalasserry in 1963. He was ordained a priest on 20 December 1971 at Thalassery by Sebastian Valloppilly. Following his ordination, he served in various pastoral capacities within the archdiocese, including a tenure as Vicar General of the Diocese of Bhadravathi. From 2007 to 2010, he served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha. Episcopal ministry Bishop of Mandya (2010–2014) On 18 January 2010, he was appointed the Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Mandya, in Karnataka and was consecrated on 7 April 2010 at the Infant Jesus Cathedral Church at Hinkal, Mysore.http://www.diocesemdy.org/home/inner/56 Ordination details 26 December 2013 ;http://www.mandyadiocese.org/home/inner/33 George Njaralakatt appointed as Mandya Bishop 26 December 2013 14 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131214171409/http://www.mandyadiocese.org/home/inner/33 dead ;http://www.ernakulamarchdiocese.org/mainnews_details_temp.php?id=158 Appointed as Bishop of Mandya 26 December 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131227064743/http://www.ernakulamarchdiocese.org/mainnews_details_temp.php?id=158 27 December 2013 dmy As the first shepherd of the "infant diocese," Mar Njaralakatt was tasked with building the diocese's administrative and pastoral foundations from the ground up. The region was largely a mission field, home to thousands of Syro-Malabar migrants who had left Kerala for employment but lacked a cohesive ecclesiastical structure. His tenure was marked by extensive travel to remote mission stations to connect with the scattered faithful. He focused on establishing systems to address the "pain of the migrant," prioritizing the preservation of liturgical identity among the diaspora. His foundational work paved the way for the diocese's later expansion to include Bengaluru. Archbishop of Thalassery (2014–2022) On 30 October 2014, he was raised as the Archbishop of Archdiocese of Tellicherry at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Tellicherry.http://translate.google.co.in/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.cyclopaedia.net/wiki/Njaralakatt&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBishop%2BMar%2BGeorge%2BNjaralakatt%2B-school%26start%3D10%26client%3Dfirefox-beta%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26channel%3Dsb%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D598 Details about Bishop 26 December 2013 ;http://www.archdioceseoftellicherry.org/events.php Archbishop Mar George Njaralakatt Biography 13 February 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150215124936/http://www.archdioceseoftellicherry.org/events.php 15 February 2015 dmy ;http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/08/29/pope_approves_appointment_of_archbishop_of_tellicherrypope__/1105484 Pope approves appointment of Archbishop of Tellicherry 13 February 2015 ;https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/30403/pope-approves-new-bishop-for-syro-malabar-eparchy-in-india Pope approves new archbishop 13 February 2015 Returning to his home diocese as Archbishop, Mar Njaralakatt's leadership was characterized by a focus on family apostolate and faith formation. He leveraged his academic background in catechetics to strengthen the Sunday school system and faith training for the youth. His administration was noted for its "lovely and paternal" style, emphasizing listening and accessibility for both the clergy and the laity. Vilakkanur Eucharistic Miracle During his tenure as Archbishop, Mar Njaralakatt played a pivotal stewardship role regarding the Eucharistic phenomenon at Christ the King Church, Vilakkanur. On 21 September 2018, following theological study, he authorized the public veneration of a consecrated Host that had reportedly manifested the face of Jesus in 2013. Balancing canonical caution with pastoral sensitivity, he allowed the relic to be placed on a side altar for the faithful, ensuring proper documentation of the event which eventually received Vatican recognition in May 2025. Role in CBCI Mar Njaralakatt was an active member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) and the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC). He served as the **Chairman of the CBCI Commission for Catechetics**, where he advocated for experiential faith formation methods over purely academic instruction. He was a consistent voice for the pastoral rights of Syro-Malabar migrants across India, arguing within the CBCI that the Church's jurisdiction should follow its faithful. Retirement Mar George Njaralakatt retired on 15 January 2022 at the age of 75. He was succeeded by Mar Joseph Pamplany. Since his retirement, he resides at the Santhome Regional Bishop’s House, Santhome Estate, Kunnoth, Kilianthara P.O. 670 706. References External links Official Website of Archdiocese of Tellicherry George Njaralakatt on Catholic-Hierarchy.org Category:1946 births Category:Living people Category:Syro-Malabar archbishops Category:People from Idukki district