The Synod of the Major Archiepiscopal Syro-Malabar Church, with the assent of the Holy Father Pope Francis, has elected Rev. Fr. Tony Neelankavil as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archieparchy of Trichur, India, assigning him the titular See of Masuccaba, Rev. Fr. Joseph Pamplany as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archieparchy of Tellicherry, India, assigning him the titular See of Numluli and Rev. Fr. Sebastian Vaniyapurackal as Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia, assigning him the titular See of Troina.

His Excellency Msgr. Tony Neelankavil was ordained a priest on December 27, 1993, and has held various roles in the Mary Matha Seminary and has also served as a member of a theological commission and the presbyteral council of the Archi eparchy. His Grace Msgr. Joseph Pamplany was ordained a priest on December 30, 1997, and has obtained a doctorate in Biblical theology, has been a member of the Doctrinal Commission of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. His Excellency Msgr. Sebastian Vaniyapurackal was ordained a priest on December 30, 1992 and has served first as a judge for the Tribunal and then as judicial vicar and since 2014, he has held the role of vice-chancellor at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia.

The new appointments made in Syro-Malabar Church were announced by the Holy See on 1st September,2017.