Bishop Savarimuthu Arokiaraj is the Bishop of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tiruchirapalli.
His canonical appointment as Bishop of Trichy was announced on 29 June 2021
and was consecrated as a bishop on 15 August 2021.
Early life
Bishop Savarimuthu Arokiaraj was born on 24 October 1954 in Lalapettai. He studied Philosophy and Theology at
St. Peter Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore (1973–1980). He was ordained priest on 8 January 1981, for the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli. He obtained a Doctorate in Liturgy from L'
Institut Catholique de Paris
The Institut catholique de Paris (, abbr. ICP), known in English as the Catholic University of Paris (and in Latin as ''Universitas catholica Parisiensis''), is a private university located in Paris, France.
History: 1875–present
The Institut ...
, France (2002).
Priesthood
He served in the following ministries prior to his appointment as Bishop of Trichy:
* 1981: Asst. Parish Priest, St. Joseph's Church, Dindigul;
* 1981–1986: Parish Priest at Ayyampatty;
* 1986–1987: Parish Priest at P. Udayapatty;
* 1988–1991: Secretary of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission;
* 1991–1994: Regional Secretary for the Liturgy Commission of Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council;
* 1994–2002: Higher Studies in France;
* 2002–2008: Secretary of the Liturgy Commission of Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council;
* 2009–2012: Diocesan Chancellor and Parish Priest at Subramaniapuram;
* 2012–2015: Diocesan Chancellor and Professor of Liturgy at St. Paul's Seminary, Tiruchirappalli;
* 2015–2016: Parish Priest of the Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli;
* 2016–2019: Rector of St. Paul's Seminary, Tiruchirappalli;
* 2019–2021: Rector and Parish Priest of Holy Redeemer's Basilica, Tiruchirappalli.
Episcopal ministry
The diocese of Tiruchirapalli became vacant by the retirement of late Bishop
Antony Devotta
Antony Devotta was the ninth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tiruchirappalli of the Ecclesiastical Province of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Early life and education
He was born on 30 June 1943 in Santhome, Chennai. His family had moved f ...
on 14 July 2018. Simultaneously, Pope Francis appointed Bishop
Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss
Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss (6 October 1947 – 26 May 2024) was an Indian Catholic bishop who served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Thanjavur.
Mariadoss was born on 6 October 1947 to Mariadoss and Ranjitham, a Catholic family from Ammapet ...
of Tanjore as Apostolic Administrator on the same day. The diocese was thus vacant for almost 3 years.
On 29 June 2021,
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 ...
appointed Fr. Savarimuthu Arokiaraj as the new bishop of Tiruchirappalli. He received his episcopal consecration on 15 August 2021 at St. Mary's Cathedral and took possession of the Diocese of Tiruchirapalli on the same day. He was consecrated by
Archbishop Antony Pappusamy
Mons. Antony Pappusamy (born 1 October 1949) is Metropolitan Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai in India from 2014 to 2025.
Early life and education
Pappusamy was born on 1 October 1949 in Marambadi, Tamil Nadu. He completed ...
of Madurai who was the Principal Consecrator and
Bishop Devadass Ambrose of Tanjore and Bishop Amalraj Arulappan served as Principal Co-Consecrators. His episcopal motto is "Put out into the deep sea" (Luke 5:4)
External links
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arokiaraj, Savarimuthu
1954 births
Living people
Catholic University of Paris alumni
21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in India