On Saturday 28th November 2015, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Julian Gnanaprasagam the Bishop-elect of Jaffna was consacrated as the 8th Bishop of Jaffna, Northen Province of Sri Lanka.

 

The Principal Consecrator was Bishop Emeritus of Jaffna Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas Savundarayagam, co-consecrators were the Bishop Emeritus of Trincomalee Rt. Rev. Bishop Kingsley Swampillai and the Bishop of Kandy Rt. Rev. Bishop Vianney Fernando.

Other Bishops of the Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka and the Apostolic Nuncio were present too.

 

His Lordiship Bishop Julian is the fourth Tamil Bishop to be elected as Jaffna's Shepherd as the first four Bishops were French.

 

We remind you that according the 2013 statistics, the Diocese of Jaffna has 97 priests and 56 religious priests who have to care  240,682 catholics.

 

The very first move of Bishop Julian was the appointment of a new Vicar General; He appointed Very Rev. Pathinathar J. Jebaratnam, former Vice - Rector of Major Seminary of St. Francis Xavier in Columbuthurai.

 

Our prayers go to the new Bishop of Jaffna whilist our thanks go to the Bishop Emeritus who served for 11 years as Bishop of Mannar and 23 years as Bishop of Jaffna.

 

Photos by St. Mary's Cathedral Media Staff - Diocese of Jaffna

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