ASIA/INDIA - Rev. Alphonse Devasahayam appointed Rector of St Paul Apostle Inter-diocesan Seminary at Tiruchirapalli

Vatican City (Fides Service) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples has, 30 April 2004, appointed Rector of St Paul Apostle Inter-diocesan Seminary in the diocese of Tiruchirapalli India, Rev. Alphonse Devasahayan of the diocesan clergy of Kottar. The new Rector was born in 1946 at Asaripallam, Tamilnadu. He was ordained a priest on 19 December 1969. After studying philosophy and theology at St. Paul’s Seminary (1963/70), he continued his studies at Seaton Hall University in the United States (1979/81) and later obtained a Licentiate (1978) and Doctorate in Theology (1982) in Belgium. He has been: Professor, Dean and Librarian at St. Paul’s Seminary, guest Professor in many major seminaries and Institutes of Theology in India and Sri Lanka, editor of Vaiharai Theology Journal, Director of Correspondence Courses in Theology for lay people in Tamil, founder of the Tamil Theological Association, Vice-president and later President of the Indian Theological Association. He has published several books, four in Tamil, and more than 50 articles on theological subjects. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 7/5/2004; Righe 13; Parole 182)