Pope Leo Appoints Rt. Selvarajan Dasan as New Bishop of Neyyattinkara, Kerala

New Delhi, 18 October 2025, CBCI: His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Rt. Dr. D. Selvarajan Dasan as the Bishop of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara. Earlier, on 8 February 2025, Pope Francis had named him Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese.

Bishop Selvarajan Dasan was born on 27 January 1962 in Valiyavila, within the Diocese of Neyyattinkara. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye, and later obtained a licentiate and doctorate in Canon Law from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

Ordained a priest on 23 December 1987 for the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trivandrum of the Latins, Bishop Selvarajan has served the Church in a wide range of pastoral and administrative roles. His priestly ministry has included service as Parish Priest of St. Albert’s Church, Muthiyavila (1988–1994); Director of Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Trivandrum (1991–1995); Parish Priest of St. Jude’s, Chinnathurai (1994–1995); and Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s, Manikkapuram (1995).

Throughout his ministry, Bishop Selvarajan has also contributed significantly to ecclesiastical administration and canonical service. He has served as Defender of the Bond at the Trivandrum Tribunal and Director of Pastoral Care (2001–2003), Parish Priest of St. Paul’s, Mamaral, and Director of Schools (2001–2008). Additionally, he held the post of Defender of the Bond of the Tribunal of Neyyattinkara (2001–2011) and was a member of both the College of Consultors and the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs (since 2007).

From 2008 to 2014, he served as Chancellor and Pastor of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, followed by his tenure as Pastor of the Sacred Heart and Director of the Losagni Pastoral Centre (2014–2019). Since 2019, Bishop Selvarajan has been the Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier Church, Thirupuram.

He was ordained Bishop on 25 March 2025 and now succeeds Bishop Vincent Samuel, who has stepped down from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara.

Bishop Selvarajan’s appointment represents the continuation of a long and dedicated service to the Church in Kerala. His pastoral experience, academic depth, and leadership within various diocesan responsibilities stand as a testament to his commitment to the faith and to the people entrusted to his care.

Source : CBCI

Download Catholic Connect App for Daily News Updates: 

Android: Click here to download

iOS: Click here to download