The synod of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church in Kerala elected three new bishops on Sept. 1.
On receiving papal assent, the synod at Mount St. Thomas appointed Rev. Fr Tony Neelankavil and Rev. Fr Joseph Pamplany as auxiliary bishops, and Rev. Fr Sebastian Vaniyapurackal as curia bishop, according to Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).
According to a statement from CBCI, Fr Neelankavil is a member of the theology commission of the Syro-Malabar Church and of the liturgical research centre. He was also member of CBCI bishops-theologians colloquium.
Fr Pamplany is a member of the consulters' body of the archeparchy and of the administrative council. Also, he is secretary of the doctrinal commission of the Syro-Malabar Church, Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) and CBCI.
Fr Vaniyapurackal was the vice chancellor of Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church.
The ecclesiastical provisions were made public in Rome.
