Paul Chittilapilly facts for kids

Paul Chittilapilly (born February 7, 1934 – died September 6, 2020) was a respected leader in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He dedicated his life to serving his community as a bishop, guiding many people in their faith.

Early Life and Education

Paul Chittilapilly was born in a place called Mattom, located in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. This was on February 7, 1934. From a young age, he felt a calling to serve the church.

He began his journey to become a priest and was ordained on October 18, 1961. This means he officially became a priest. After his ordination, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. There, he earned a Ph.D., which is a very high academic degree.

A Teacher and Leader

After finishing his studies in Rome, Paul Chittilapilly returned to India. He became a professor at St. Thomas’ Apostolic Seminary in Kottayam. Here, he helped teach and train new priests.

In 1978, he was given another important role. He was appointed as the vicar general of the Archeparchy of Thrissur. A vicar general is like a chief assistant to the archbishop, helping to manage the church's affairs in a large area.

Becoming a Bishop

Paul Chittilapilly became a bishop on August 24, 1988. A bishop is a senior leader in the Christian church, responsible for a specific region called an eparchy or diocese.

He first served as the bishop of the Eparchy of Kalyan. He held this position from 1988 to 1996. Later, he became the bishop of the Eparchy of Thamarassery. He led this eparchy from 1996 until 2010, when he retired.

Bishop Paul Chittilapilly passed away on September 6, 2020, in Kozhikode, Kerala. He is remembered for his many years of service and leadership in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.