M. Joji

infobox bishopbiog
name = M. Joji


religion=Christian
See =Roman Catholic Church| Title =Archbishop of Hyderabad
Period = 30 April 2000—"Incumbent"
consecration = 30 April 2000
Predecessor = S. Arulappa
Successor = "Incumbent"
post = Bishop of Vijayawada
ordination = 14 December 1971
date of birth = 7 October 1942
place of birth = Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh
date of death =
place of death=

M. Joji is the present Archbishop of Hyderabad [Ecumenical news international, 31 May 2000 [http://www.eni.ch/highlights/news.shtml?2000/05] ] and the third in succession.

He is an able Administrator [Malcolm, Theresa, National Catholic Reporter, April 7, 2000. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_23_36/ai_61635838/pg_3] ] .

Latin, Telugu, and English are the languages known to the Archbishop.

Early years & education

Joji was educated at the Lutheran Boarding School near Samalkot which is managed by the Priests of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC).

Divinity & Pastorship

Joji was ordained as a priest on 14 December 1971 [Catholic Hierarchy, Archbishop Joji. [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bjoli.html] ] in the diocese of Vijayawada [Archdiocese of Hyderabad, Ecclesiastical Units 2008, Archbishop's House, 9-1-17/1, Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad 500 003, Andhra Pradesh, India, pp. 40-41] . Joji was privileged to have received Blessed Mother Theresa when she went to Vijayawada to initiate the work of the Missionaries of Charity. [Photo study from Rev. Dr. P. Dass Babu's "Blessed Mother Theresa of Kolkata", National Christian Writers Forum, Hyderabad, 2003. Dass Babu is a "Telugu Pundit" and an accomplished Writer / Theologian who earned a Bachelor of Divinity (B. D.) degree from the Bishop's College, Kolkata as well as a Master's degree in communication from a Japanese University.]

Bishopric

Diocese of Khammam

On 21 December 1991, he was appointed as the Bishop of Khammam. However, he was ordained as the Bishop on 19 March 1992 [Archdiocese of Hyderabad, "op. cit."] .

He served as the Bishop of Khammam up to 8 November 1996 after which he was transferred to the Diocese of Vijayawada.

Diocese of Vijayawada

Bishop Joji became the Bishop of Vijayawada on 8 November 1996. However, he took charge of the diocese only on 19 January 1997 ["Ibid."] .

Archbishopric

Archdiocese of Hyderabad

On 29 January 2000, he was appointed as the Archbishop of Hyderabad. He was consecrated principally by Archbishop Giorgio Zur in the presence of his predecessor and co-consecrators Archbishop S. Arulappa and Bishop Joseph S. Thumma on April 30, 2000 [Catholic Hierarchy, "op. cit."] .

Joji inaugurated the Hyderabad session of the scholarly Church History Association of India incorporating Church Historians of the Pentecostal, Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic traditions.

Able Administrator

Archbishop Joji is known for his able administration. He seemed to have headed the Diocese of Vijayawada's Social Service Society before being elevated to the Bishopric of Khammam.

Consecrator

So far, the Archbishop has principally consecrated three Bishop's of Andhra Pradesh, namely:

* Bishop of Kurnool, Most Rev. P. Anthony (19 April 2008) [Catholic Hierarchy, Bishop Anthony. [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpoola.html] ]
* Bishop of Cuddapah, Most Rev. G. Prasad (1 March 2008) [Catholic Hierarchy, Bishop Prasad [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgallela.html] ]
* Bishop of Nellore, Most Rev. D. M. Prakasam (17 January 2007) [Catholic Hierarchy, Bishop Prakasam [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bprakasam.html] ]

ee also

* The Right Reverend B. P. Sugandhar, Bishop-in-Medak, Church of South India

References