The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Rev. Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt, current Auxiliary Bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, as the next Bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago on July 3, 2022. The appointment was communicated by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States on July 3, 2022.
About Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt
Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt was born at Parappukara, in Thrissur district, Kerala, India, on September 27, 1956, as the second son of the late Mr. Varghese and late Mrs. Rosy Alappatt. He has two brothers and two sisters. His baptismal name is John, and he is named after the patron saint of his parish, St. John Nepomucene. He was commonly known as Joy Alappatt. He had his primary school education at St. George Lower Primary School, Puthenpally, Varapuzha; his Upper Primary School at A.U.P.S., Parappukkara, and his high school at P.V.S. High School, Parapukkara.
After his high school studies, in 1972, he joined the St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thope, Thrissur. He completed his major seminary studies at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, and was ordained by Mar James Pazhayattil on December 31, 1981, for the diocese of Irinjalakuda. He served as Assistant Parish Priest at Chalakudy, Mala, and St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda. He earned his Masters in Theology from St. Joseph’s Pontifical Institute, Aluva. He completed his Masters in Sociology from Andhra University. He served as a Chaplain and Mission Director of the Syro-Malabar community in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, for six years, from 1987 to 1993.
He came to the United States in 1994 and served as Associate Pastor in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Newark. He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education Program and worked as a certified Priest Chaplain at Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Mar Jacob Angadiath invited him in 2001 to serve in the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, and he was appointed as the Director of Syro-Malabar Mission in the region of New Jersey and later appointed as the Administrator of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Garfield. He was the Convener of the Syro-Malabar National Convention 2003, New Jersey. In 2011 he was appointed as the Pastor (Vicar) of the Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral, in Chicago, Illinois. While he has been serving as the pastor of the Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral, on July 24, 2014, Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Rev. Fr. Joy Alappatt as the Auxiliary Bishop of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago and also as the titular bishop of the see of Bencenna. On September 27, 2014, was his Episcopal Ordination.
Bishop Joy Alappatt is a known retreat preacher, orator, musician, and influential pastor with efficient administrative skills. He has written lyrics for several Christian devotional songs and published a few music albums.
On July 03, 2022, by accepting the resignation of Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt as the bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Chicago.
Our Hearty Congratulations, Prayers, and Wishes!