Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect for the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples, on June 20, 2008, appointed Father Mathew Poovanpuzha, of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Rector of the Interdiocesan Seminary “Khristo Jyoti Mahovidyaloyo” of the Diocese of Sambalpur (India).
The new Rector was born on February 11, 1944, in Mattakkara, Diocese of Palai, Kerala (India). He made his perpetual vows on May 31, 1971 and was ordained a priest on October 26, 1973. He studied philosophy and theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, and later earned a BA at the GMC College in Sambalpur, and a MS at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos. Since his ordination, he has served in various positions in the field of communications. Among these are: Director of Communications for the Diocese of Sambalpur; Coordinator of Communications for the Eastern Indian Province of the Society of the Divine Word; Parish pastor in various parishes and assistant pastor in the Diocese of San Pablo (Philippines); Director of the Diocesan Center for Social Communications “Sanchar Sadan”; Regional Coordinator of Communications in Orissa; National Coordinator of Communications for the Society of the Divine Word in India; visiting professor of Media and Communications at Khristo Jyoti Mahovidyaloyo; Rector of the same Seminary from 1999-2005. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/09/2008)
