December 15, Colombo (LNW): Pope Francis has officially named Reverend Gnanapragasam Anthonypillai as the new Bishop of Mannar, succeeding Bishop Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando, who recently resigned from his pastoral duties in the diocese.
Reverend Anthonypillai, a longstanding and committed member of the Mannar Diocese, brings with him decades of experience in various ecclesiastical roles since his ordination in 1994.
Born on 12 July 1965 in the town of Adampan, situated within the Mannar Diocese, he was raised and nurtured within the very community he will now serve as bishop.
He pursued his academic studies in philosophy and theology at the Saint Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Jaffna, equipping himself with the knowledge and spiritual foundation needed for his future role in the Church.
Over the years, Reverend Anthonypillai has contributed to the diocese in numerous capacities. His early years of service included roles as the Parish Vicar of Murunkan from 1994 to 1996 and as the Secretary to the Bishop between 1996 and 1999.
His dedication to parish life saw him serve as the Parish Priest of Cheddikulam (1999-2003), Pallimunai (2003-2006), and Vankalai (2006-2009), all the while providing spiritual guidance and support to his congregations.
From 2014 to 2018, he took on the important role of Rector at the Diocesan Minor Seminary, where he was instrumental in shaping the next generation of clergy.
More recently, he served as Parish Priest at Saint Sebastian Cathedral in Mannar (2018-2021) and Pesalai (2021-2023), before being appointed Administrator of the Our Lady of Madhu National Shrine in Mannar in 2023.
In addition to his pastoral work, Reverend Anthonypillai has furthered his theological education, obtaining a Licentiate in Religious Education from Fordham University in New York between 2010 and 2014.
His commitment to continuous learning also led him to undertake specialised training in youth pastoral care in India in 2022.
