Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios of Mavelikkara Retires

Mavelikkara, May 30, 2025: Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, aged 75, retired from the pastoral governance of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Diocese of Mavelikkara in Kerala on 30 May 2025. The Holy Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, with the consent of Pope Leo XIV, appointed Bishop Mathews Mar Polycarpos, 69, currently the Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum, as the new Bishop of Mavelikkara. Bishop Joshua will continue as the administrator of the diocese until 29 June.

Bishop Joshua (Koshy Varghese), was born on 24 May 1950 in Kottarakara, in the civil district of Kollam. He had his early education at St Mary’s School, Kizhaketheruvu, and completed his secondary schooling at the Government High School, Kottarakara, in 1967.

He joined St Aloysius Minor Seminary in Trivandrum in the same year. He pursued his Pre-Degree course in Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, and undertook studies in Philosophy and Theology at St Joseph’s Seminary, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, between 1970 and 1978. He was ordained a priest on 2 April 1978 by Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios.

As Fr Koshy Varghese Kizhakkeveettil, he served in the parishes of Kirathoor, Manjathoppu, Vimalapuram, and Susaipuram from 1978 to 1983. He graduated from Christian College, Marthandam, with History, Economics, and Politics as his optional subjects. He obtained a Master’s degree from Madurai Kamaraj University in 1984.

In 1983, he was appointed vicar of the mission stations at Padi, Perampur, and Thiruvottiyoor in Chennai. During his tenure in Chennai, he established the Mar Ivanios Dispensary and founded the Sacred Heart School, serving as its principal from its beginning. He pursued higher studies in education, securing a Bachelor’s degree in 1985 and a Master’s in 1987 from Kamaraj University, Madurai.

In 1994, he founded Mar Gregorios College in Chennai and served as its local manager until 1996. He later completed research on “Leadership, Organisational Health with School Effectiveness” at Stella Matutina College of Education, Chennai, earning a PhD from the University of Madras in 2000.

Fr Koshy was appointed Vicar General of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum in May 1996 and elevated to the rank of Cor-episcopo in 1997. Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum on 15 April 1998. He was ordained a bishop with the name Joshua Mar Ignatios on 29 June 1998 by Metropolitan Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios.

Bishop Joshua served as Vice Chairman of the Labour Movement of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCBC) from 1998 to 2000 and later as Chairman from 2002 to 2007. He was Secretary of the KCBC from 2000 to 2002 and elected its Vice President in December 2007. He has served as Chairman of the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) since 2002.

He has been active in ecumenical work as a member of the Nilackal Ecumenical Trust. He undertook several ecumenical visits with other bishops of the Episcopal Churches and participated in international pilgrimages. He also visited the World Council of Churches in Geneva and took part in a conference hosted there. His international engagements include various conferences organised by the CBCI and the Holy See, held across the globe.

The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church elected him the first bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Mavelikkara. The inauguration of the Eparchy and his installation as Bishop took place on 16 February 2007.

Bishop Joshua Mar Ignatios has served the Church as a priest for 48 years and as a bishop for 27 years.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara