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HIS EXCELLENCY MOST REV. JOSEPH MAR THOMAS
The Metropolitan Bishop of Mavelikara
Bishop Joseph Mar Thomas was born as Joseph Konnathu in the village of Vadasserikkara in the district of Pathanamthitta, on April 20, 1952 to late Mr. K.C. Thomas and Mrs. Sosamma Thomas. He had his primary education in the Govt. L.P. School, Vadasserikkara and completed his schooling at Vadasserikkara High School. He then joined the St. Aloysius Seminary in June 1968. He did his Pre-degree choosing Economics, History and Political Science as his optional subjects from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. Thereafter, he joined the Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye for completing the Bachelors degree in Theology. Later, as part of his priestly studies, he did his Bachelor of Philosophy at Carmelgiri Seminary, Alwaye. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 23, 1978 at St. Antony's Church, his home Parish at Vadasserikkara. After his ordination Fr.Joseph Konnathu served in various parishes. By 1979 he was sent to Kollam (Kadappakkada) as the first resident Vicar of the St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Kadappakada and Assistant Vicar of seven parishes in the neighbourhood. In spite of his busy mission work at Kollam he did his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the esteemed Fathima Matha National College, Kollam.
He completed his Master's degree in Education taking English as his optional subject and continued doing a Master's Degree in the same. During his tenure as the Rector of the Trivandrum Minor Seminary he also served as the Senate member of the Pontifical Institute, Alwaye. He also pursued a diploma in Guidance and Counselling (Kodaikanal). During this period he rendered his service as the Vocation Promoter of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum and as member of All Kerala Vocation Promotion Council. From 1986 onwards he served as Lecturer in the faculty of Economics at Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. After completing six years of service in the Minor Seminary, he was appointed as the Ecclesiastical District Vicar of Trivandrum and the Vicar of the St. Mary's Metropolitan Church, Pattom. While working as a lecturer in Mar Ivanios College he started his research work in the field of "Economics of Education" in the University of Kerala and completed the same by 1997 and was awarded doctorate in education. Mar Thomas joined the faculty of Education at Mar Theophilos Training College, Trivandrum in 1996 and after a year he took charge as the Principal of his alma mater for a period of 10 years.
In 1998, he contested the Kerala University Senate election, as an independent candidate and became senate member. In 1999, he became the member of Board of Studies of Education and Faculty Member of Education in the University of Kerala. In the year 2000 he was appointed as the member of School Curriculum Committee, headed by the Education Minister, Government of Kerala. He worked as the NCTE South Zone Expert Committee Member, Bangalore, Vice President of Council for Teacher Education (CTE) Kerala chapter, Malankara Catholic Catechism Text Book Committee Chairman and the committee member of the Principal's Council of Kerala. In his various capacities as Theologian, Priest and Professor, he has published several research articles on various subjects in Economics and Education.
On Jan. 5, 2005 Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe. He was ordained bishop on Feb. 19, 2005, taking the name Joseph Mar Thomas at the St. Mary's Cathedral Church.
Bishop Joseph Mar Thomas is a research guide of the University of Kerala. He is serving as educational consultant of several regional, national and international institutions. He is the Director of the international center for research and development at Chennai, Trivandrum and New York Chapters. Besides, at present he is a consultant member of the New York State board education. Bishop Joseph Mar Thomas is a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) and Europe. He is the Chairman of the Synodal commission for Pastoral Care of the Faithful Outside India.
When the Eparchy of Bathery was bifurcated and the new Eparchy of Puttur was established by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church Bishop Geevarghese Mar Divannasios was appointed as the bishop of the Eparchy of Puttur. Bishop Joseph Mar Thomas was appointed as the third Bishop of the Eparchy of Bathery. The enthronement of the new bishop was held on April 13, 2010.
HIS EXCELLENCY MOST REV.DR.JOSEPH MAR THOMAS
Born : 20-04-1952
Ordained Priest : 23-12-1978
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of
Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitator to North America
And Europe : 05-01-2005
Episcopal Ordination : 19-02-2005
Appointed Bishop of Bathery : 25-01-2010
Installation as the Bishop of Bathery : 13-04-2010
Feast of Heavenly Patron-St.Thomas : 3rd July