Jacob Manathodath (; born 22 February 1947) is a former Bishop of
Palghat
Palakkad (), Renaming of cities in India, also known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery, is a city and a municipality in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of P ...
. Briefly he also served as the Apostolic Administrator of the
Archdiocese of Ernakulam, India.
Biography
Jacob Manathodath was born on 22 February 1947 in
Kodamthuruthu, one of seven children born to Kurian and Kathreena. He attended the L.P. School, Kodamthuruthu, the E.C.E.K. Union High School,
Kuthiathode. He entered the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Ernakulam, and then the
Papal Seminary
The Papal Seminary in Pune, India, is a Catholic educational institute whose primary function is training priests.
Overview
The seminary trains students from three Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites, particular churches in India ...
,
Pune
Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...
, where he earned his Licentiate in Philosophy and Master's in Theology. He was ordained priest on 4 November 1972.
His first assignments after ordination included Assistant Vicar of St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, and then private secretary to Cardinal
Joseph Parecattil
Joseph Parecattil (1 April 1912 – 20 February 1987) was an Indian prelate of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Ernakulam from 1956 to 1984, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969. He was the first Cardinal fro ...
. He earned his Doctorate in Theology from the
Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University (; also known as the Gregorian or Gregoriana), is a private pontifical university in Rome, Italy.
The Gregorian originated as a part of the Roman College, founded in 1551 by Ignatius of Loyola, and included all ...
in Rome from 1979 to 1984.
[
Returning from Rome, he held various positions in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam, including Archdiocesan Secretary, secretary to Cardinal ]Antony Padiyara
Antony Padiyara (11 February 1921 – 23 March 2000) was a Syro-Malabar Catholic cardinal and the first Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Before serving as Major Archbishop from 1985 to 1996, he previously served as Bishop of Ootacamund ...
, Promoter of Justice and Defender of Bond at the Archdiocesan Tribunal, Chancellor, parish priest in Elamakara and Chempu, Eparchial Consultor, Executive Secretary of Save A Family Plan (India) and editor of ''Ernakulam Missam''. He began teaching at St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, in 1990.[
On 6 September 1992, ]Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005.
In his you ...
nominated him titular bishop of Abydus and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. He received his episcopal consecration on 28 November 1992 and was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. He chose as his episcopal motto "To do what pleases Him". Pope John Paul appointed him Bishop of Palghat on 11 November 1996 and he was installed there on 1 February 1997.[
He is recognized as an authority on ]inculturation
In Christianity, inculturation is the adaptation of Christian teachings and practices to cultures. This is a term that is generally used by Catholics and the Orthodox, whereas Protestants (such as Anglicans and Lutherans), especially associated ...
, an opponent of globalization and violations of human rights, and an advocate for the need for the Church to be poor.
Real Estate & Fake Document controversy
On 22 June 2018, Pope Francis
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
named Manathodath the Apostolic Administrator of the Archieparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. His appointment, according to Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
Leonardo Sandri (born 18 November 1943) is an Argentine prelate of the Catholic Church who has been a cardinal since November 2007 and vice dean of the College of Cardinals since January 2020. He was prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern C ...
, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Dicastery for the Eastern Churches (also called the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches), previously named the Congregation for the Oriental Churches or Congregation for the Eastern Churches (), is a dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible f ...
, reflected Vatican concern about the real estate transactions as well as "ecclesiastical division" among the clergy and the archieparchy's bishops. An installation service was scheduled for 23 June with Giambattista Diquattro, Papal Nuncio to India, and several other prelates in attendance, including Cardinal George Alencherry
George Alencherry (; born 19 April 1945) is the Major Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church after serving in the position from 2011 to 2023. He is also a cardinal of the Catholic Church.
He was elected by the Holy Synod of the ...
, whose authority as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly was suspended by Manathodath's appointment as administrator, completed his duty as apostolic administrator on 26/06/2019 .
Writings
*
References
External links
*
Catholic hierarchy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manathodath, Jacob
1947 births
People from Kerala
Pontifical Gregorian University alumni
Indian Eastern Catholic bishops
Living people