Gheevarghese Mar Aprem is the Auxiliary bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam . He was elected by the synod of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church as the Auxiliary Bishop on August 29, 2020.

Early life and education

Gheevarhese Mar Aprem was born George Kurisummotil on August 9, 1961, in Thiruvalla, Kerala as a member of the Syro Malankara Knanaya Community. He began his priestly formation at St. Stanislaw's Minor Seminary in Kottayam. He then continued his studies at St. Joseph's Diocesan Seminary in Mangalore.^[1]

Ministry

After his ordination, He served as the Kottayam Minor Seminary as its vice rector and then served in numerous parishes for a decade while attaining a master's in sacred art at the Holy Spirit Maronite University in Kaslik, Lebanon. After his master's, He taught iconography at Saint Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute and theology of icons at the Saint Thomas Apostolic Seminary. He then served as director of the “Hadusa” Commission for the Performing Arts till he was appointed as the parish priest of Saint Theresa's Catholic Church, Ranni, a role that he served until his appointment as bishop. In 2019, Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt appointed him as the vicar-general of the Syro Malankara Faithful in the archdiocese.^[2]

Auxiliary bishop

He was appointed on August 29, 2020, After long consideration and debate between the Syro Malabar Archeparchy, The Synod, and the Syro Malankara Catholicos for the need of an auxiliary bishop for the Syro Malankara Faithful in the Community. He was consecreated by the Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Baselios Cleemis, Joseph Pandarasseril, and Moolakkatt.^[3]

References