KOLLAM: Mon. Dr. Paul Antony Mullassery was elevated Bishop of the Kollam Latin Catholic diocese at the installation ceremony held at Fatima Mata National College campus here on Sunday. Dr. Mullassery, the Vicar General of the diocese, has been appointed by Pope Francis of Vatican in place of Dr. Stanley Roman who stepped down from his duties. Dr. Stanley Roman, Fr. Jose Johny, Fr. Sanu Francis, and Fr. Joe Antony led the sermons of installation which commenced by 2.30 pm. As many as 30 bishops and over 300 priests took part in the ceremony. Some 25,000 people representing believers from 116 parishes under 8 foranes under the Kollam diocese witnessed the event which followed green protocol.
The official assumption of charge by Kollam Bishop will be held at Infant Jesus Cathedral in Thangasseri by 3 pm on June 4. The new Bishop will be given a public welcome at Bharata Rajni auditorium here on June 9, to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by 3 pm. Mon. Paul Antony Mullassery was born to Margareta and Antony Gabriel of Kaithakkodi in Kanjirakkode under Kollam diocese on January 15, 1960.
On completion of primary education in Kanjirakkode St. Margaret LP school, he joined the apostolic school in St. Raphael seminary in 1969. He completed his schooling from Trinity Lyceum in Kollam during 1970 – 76. He joined Pontifical seminary in Aluva in 1978. He received priesthood on January 22, 1980 from then Kollam Bishop Joseph G. Fernandez. Dr. Mullassery had also served as vicar in the parishes of Vadakumthala, Maruthurkulangara, Padappakara, and Tangasseri Infant Jesus and Holy Cross cathedrals. Dr. Mullassery took his doctorate in Canon law from Pontifical Urban Univer-sity in Rome and a post-doctorate diploma from the Gregorian University.
