Pope Francis appointed Father Sagayaraj Thamburaj (55), of the clergy of Tiruchirapalli, as Bishop of the Diocese of Thanjavur on July 13.
Father Thamburaj was born on March 14, 1969, in Ayyampatty, within the Diocese of Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamalle, Chennai, and was ordained a priest on April 17, 1996.
The priest holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Madras, a Master's degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Madras University.
Throughout his ministry, Thamburaj has served in various roles, including Assistant Parish Priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Tiruchirapalli (1996-1997); Parish Priest in Marianthapuram (1997-2004); Secretary of the Diocesan Bodies of the Presbyterian Senate (2001-2007), the SC/ST Commission (2004-2009), and the Diocesan Synod (2005-2007); Director of the Pastoral Centre and Coordinator of the Diocesan Commissions (2007-2012).
He returned to parish ministry as Parish Priest in Manaparai (2012), then served as Rector and Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral and as an External Professor at the Major Seminary of Chennai and Tiruchirapalli (2017-2023). Since 2023, he has been a Professor at St. Paul’s Seminary in Tiruchirapalli.
The Diocese of Thanjavur has experienced recent vacancies due to the retirement of Bishop Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss on February 4, 2023, and his subsequent passing on May 26, 2024.
The Diocese of Thanjavur was formed due to the bifurcation of the Diocese of Mylapore on November 23, 1952. Bishop R. A. Sundaram became the first bishop on March 25, 1953, serving until his retirement in 1986.
Archbishop Packiam Arokiaswamy succeeded him, serving from November 26, 1986, until his retirement in July 1997. Bishop Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss was appointed the third Bishop of Thanjavur on July 14, 1997.
The Diocese of Thanjavur encompasses the civil districts of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Nagapattinam, covering 9,583 square kilometers. It is also comprised of six taluks in the Pudukottai district and two taluks in the Cuddalore district.
The diocese serves a Catholic population 469,000 across 96 parishes, with 204 diocesan priests. It also has jurisdiction over the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni.
This appointment was made with inputs from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.- With inputs from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
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