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Msgr. Dr. Eldho Puthenkandathil
Vicar General
Very Rev. Dr. Msgr. Eldho Puthenkandathil was born on 30th April 1957, as the son of Mr. Philipose and Mrs. Eliyamma, at Kodenchery in the district of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He was the 7th child in the family. After his high school studies at Kodenchery, he joined Infant Mary's minor seminary at Thiruvalla. From there, he did his pre-degree studies in St. Aloysius College, Edathua. After the minor seminary studies he went to St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam for his philosophy and theology courses.
He was ordained a priest on 30th December 1982. After the ordination he worked as assistant parish priest in Nilambur, Palankara and Chokad parishes of the Diocese of Bathery. After two years of his ordination, in 1984, he was sent to Rome for his higher studies. He obtained Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures from Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome and Doctorate in Biblical Theology from Gregorian University, Rome. His doctoral thesis was, "Philos: A Designation for the Jesus-Disciple Relationship; An Exegetico-Theological Investigation of the Term in the Fourth Gospel".
After coming back to India in 1992, he served as the Rector of Gurukulam Minor Seminary, Sulthan Bathery and the vicar of various parishes like Chethalayam, Pulpally, Pakkom, Mandattu, Nellimalam, Nambiarkunnu in the district of Wayanad. Since then he is also a visiting professor in the St. Mary's Malankara Major Seminary, Trivandrum. He was the Director of the Bible Apostolate of the diocese from 1993 to 1997. He is a member of the presbyteral council of the diocese since 1993. He is a well-known trainer in the field of Development and Human Resource Development. He is a State Resource Person for "The Right to Information Act 2005".
He took charge as the Executive Director of Shreyas, the Social Service Centre of the Diocese of Bathery, in 2001. It is very obvious that his determined efforts and creative endeavours gave a new perspective to the Social Apostolate of the diocese.
After his seven years of dedicated service in Shreyas, he was appointed as the Vicar General of the diocese on March 31st, 2008.
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