Bosco Puthur

Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic prelate in Australia (born 1946)

Bishop Emeritus of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne
Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam-Angamaly

Church

Catholic Church
Syro-Malabar Church

DioceseSaint Thomas the Apostle of MelbourneElected23 December 2013Installed11 January 2014Retired14 January 2023PredecessorEparchy establishedSuccessorJohn PanamthottathilOther post(s)

Apostolic Administrator of Ernakulam-Angamaly (2023–present)

OrdersOrdination27 March 1971Consecration13 February 2010
by Varkey Vithayathil, George Valiamattam, Andrews ThazhathPersonal detailsBorn (1946-05-28) 28 May 1946 (age 78)

Parappur, India

Previous post(s)

Curial Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly (2010‍–‍2014)
Titular Bishop of Foratiana (2010‍–‍2014)

Education

St. Thomas College, Thrissur^{[citation needed]}
Aluva Carmelgiri Philosophate
Pontifical College of Propaganda Fide, Rome

Bosco Puthur (born 28 May 1946) is an Indian Catholic prelate of the Syro-Malabar Church, who is Bishop emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne. Since 7 December 2023, he serves as Apostolic Administrator of the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly in India.

Early life and education

Bosco Puthur was born in Parappur, Kerala, India.

Priesthood

After being ordained as a priest of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur in 1971, Puther held the following posts:^[1]

Assistant Vicar in Ollur (1976)
Prefect of the Minor Seminary (1976)
Professor at St. Joseph's Seminary, Aluva (1977‍–‍1992)
Rector of the Minor Seminary (1992)
Protosyncello of the Archeparchy of Trichur (1995‍–‍1999)
Vicar of the Cathedral (1999)
Executive Director of the Liturgical Research Center at Mt. St. Thomas in Kakkanad (1997‍–‍2007)
Rector of the Mangalapuzha Seminary (2007‍–‍ )

Episcopate

In 2010, the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church, with prior assent of Pope Benedict XVI, selected Puthur as the Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and of the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.^[1] At the same time, he was appointed as the titular bishop of Foratiana.

Following the sudden death of Mar Varkey Vithayathil in 2011, he has also served as the Administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church and of Ernakulam-Angamaly.^[2]

On 11 January 2014, Puthur was appointed by Pope Francis as the bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Melbourne of St. Thomas, which extends over all of Australia. He was also appointed as the Apostolic Visitor of the Syro-Malabar faithful in New Zealand.^[3]

Pope Francis accepted Puthur's resignation on 14 January 2023, and appointed Mar John Panamthottathil as his successor.^[4] On 7 December 2023, the pope appointed Puther as apostolic administrator of the Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b "Dalle Chiese Orientali Cattoliche, 18.01.2010" [From the Eastern Catholic Churches, 18.01.2010] (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
^ Puthur, Bosco (April 2011). "Notification of the funeral of Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil" (PDF). www.smcim.org. Syro-Malabar Church Internet Mission (SMCIM).
^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 11.01.2014" [Resignations and Appointments, 11.01.2014] (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
^ "Resignations and Appointments, 14.01.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
^ "Resignations and Appointments, 07.12.2023" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2024.