Stephen Alathara
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
Stephen Alathara (born 1 May 1970) is the deputy secretary general of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).{{cite web|url=http://ccbi.in/?page_id=45|title=Office Bearers - CCBI|publisher=}} He started as the deputy secretary general of the conference on 10 June 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucanindia.in/news/ccbi-gets-new-deputy-secretary-general/23910/daily|title=CCBI gets new deputy secretary general - UCAN India|publisher=}} He was appointed to this post three times consecutively in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He is the first priest from Kerala to serve as the deputy secretary general of the national episcopal conference. He is also the Director of the CCBI General Secretariat, New Delhi, CCBI Centre, Bangalore and Shanti Sadan, Goa. He is the founding Director of Communio.
He is a priest from the Archdiocese of Verapoly,{{cite web|url=http://www.verapoly.in/priest/stephen-alathara/|title=Stephen Alathara - Archdiocese of Verapoly|publisher=}} Kerala and a prolific author, columnist, educationist, theologian and visiting professor in various ecclesiastical universities. He is well known for his lectures and workshops. He is the author of 17 books as well as hundreds of articles. His book Introduction to Catechetics{{cite book|url=http://www.syromalabarcatechetics.org/ebook/BOOK_ON.pdf|title=Introduction to Catechetics}} is the textbook for Catechetics in many major seminaries in India and abroad.{{cite web |url=http://oseegenius.unigre.it/pug/resource;jsessionid=F7DA7C65274B7933D9B8AC70516B8F1D?uri=345152&v=l |title=Osee Genius - Search and Discovery |website=oseegenius.unigre.it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021001022/http://oseegenius.unigre.it/pug/resource;jsessionid=F7DA7C65274B7933D9B8AC70516B8F1D?uri=345152&v=l |archive-date=2016-10-21}}
Biography
Alathara was born on 1 May 1970 as the eldest son of Alathara Joseph and Joan at Moolamattom in Idukki district in the parish of St. Joseph's Church, [https://www.vijayapuramdiocese.org/profiles/st-josephs-church-velliamattom/ Velliamttom of Vijayapuram diocese]. He was baptized at St George Church, Moolamattomm of [https://www.palaidiocese.com/ Palai diocese]. He had his education in Govt. L.P. School Kulamavu, St. Ignatius LP School, Ponnekara, Edappally and SPWHS Alwaye and St. Paul's College Kalamassery.{{cite web|url=http://www.stpauls.ac.in/|title=St.Paul's College|publisher=}} His priestly formation began on 16 June 1985 at St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Kalamassery. After completing his priestly studies at Carmelgiri Seminary{{cite web|url=http://www.carmelgiri.com/|title=Carmelgiri Seminary|first=Carmelgiri|last=Seminary|publisher=}} and Mangalapuzha Seminary,{{cite web|url=http://mangalapuzha.org/|title=Mangalapuzha Seminary / മംഗലപ്പുഴ സെമിനാരി|publisher=}} both in Alwaye, he was ordained to the priesthood on 26 January 1995 by late Archbishop of Verapoly Most Rev. Cornelius Elenjikal.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/belan.html|title=Archbishop Cornelius Elanjikal [Catholic-Hierarchy]|first=David M.|last=Cheney|publisher=}}
He has obtained an MTH in Catechetics from [https://kjcblr.org/ Kristu Jyoti College], Bangalore, an MDHA in Hospital Administration and a postgraduate diploma in Business Administration. He also acquired a PhD from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome{{cite web|url=https://www.unisal.it/|title=Università Pontificia Salesiana - Roma - Home|publisher=}} for his dissertation 'The Role of the Teachers in the Moral and Faith Formation of the Children'. He has rendered his service to the Archdiocese of Verapoly as the Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, Perumpilly, the vice Rector of the Minor Seminary, the Director of the Catechetical Department,{{cite web |url=http://verapolycatechetics.org/ |title=Department of Catechetics - Archdiocese of Verapoly |website=verapolycatechetics.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521103309/http://www.verapolycatechetics.org/ |archive-date=2012-05-21}} Director of the Family Apostolate,{{cite web|url=http://familyapostolateverapoly.blogspot.in/p/contact.html|title=Contact|publisher=}} General Convener of the Great Jubilee of Yesu Christhu Jayanthi, the Parish Priest of St. James Church, Cheranellur,{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/1409768002607626/photos/a.1409811752603251.1073741830.1409768002607626/1409812765936483|title=St.James Church Cheranalloor - Timeline - Facebook|website=Facebook|publisher=}} the Director of the [https://www.kristujayantihospital.com/ Kristu Jayanthi Hospital], a unit of [https://www.lourdeshospital.in/ Lourdes Hospital],{{cite web|url=http://lourdeshospital.in/|title=Lourdes Hospital|first=Lourdes Hospital|last=Kochi|publisher=}} He was also the director of the Public Relations Department for the archdiocese{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/archdiocese/|title=Public Relations Department Archdiocese of Verapoly - Facebook|website=Facebook|publisher=}} and a spokesperson of the [https://verapoly.in/ Archdiocese of Verapoly].
He served the Catholic Church in Kerala for eight years (2007–2014) as the official spokesperson{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Farewell-Accorded-to-Fr-Alathara/2014/06/09/article2270553.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817004835/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Farewell-Accorded-to-Fr-Alathara/2014/06/09/article2270553.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 17, 2016|title=Farewell Accorded to Fr Alathara|publisher=}} and Deputy Secretary General of the [https://kcbc.co.in/ Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council] (KCBC),{{cite web|url=http://www.kcbcsite.com/|title=K C B C Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council KCBC Official Website of KCBC kcbcsite.com Keralakatholica methran samathy kerala katholica sabha|last=browsetechnologies.com|publisher=}} which is the association of the bishops from three sui iuris Churches, namely Latin, Syro-Malabar{{cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/|title=Syro Malabar Church::Syro-Malabar Catholic Church India::Second largest Eastern Catholic Church::Apostolic Church India|publisher=}} and Syro-Malankara.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicate.net/|title=The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church|publisher=}} He was the Director of the P [https://kcbc.co.in/KCBC/POCHistory astoral Orientation Centre (POC)],{{cite web|url=http://www.kcbcsite.com/history.php|title=KCBC|publisher=}} which is the common pastoral animation centre of the Church in Kerala for the three individual Churches, located at Cochin, Kerala.{{cite web| url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2014/jun/09/farewell-accorded-to-fr-alathara-622805.html| title = Farewell Accorded to Fr Alathara- The New Indian Express}}
See also
References
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Category:21st-century Indian Roman Catholic priests
Category:21st-century Indian bishops