| FULL NAME
|
VISUVASAM SELVARAJ, S/o (Late) Mr. S. Viagappan and (Late) V.
Maria Ranjidham
|
| DATE OF BIRTH
|
04.01.1966 - Baptised in Our Lady of Guidance Church,
R.A.Puram, Chennai - 8TH CHILD IN THE FAMILY OF 9 CHILDREN.
Eight sons and one daughter. As of now, five brothers have
died.
|
| School Education
|
Class 1 to 5: Avvai Home, Adyar, Chennai
|
|
6th to 10th: Kumara Raja Muthiah School, Adyar, Chennai.
|
| Vocation promoters
|
Rev. Fr. Rayappa and Rev. (Late) Fr. Antonysamy, Parish Priests
of Our Lady of Guidance Church, Foreshore Estate, Chennai.
(Late) Fr. Krupakaran, Parish Priest of Visitation Church,
Abiramapuram, Chennai, was responsible for choosing the Diocese
of Port Blair. I also gratefully remember Late Fr. Antonysamy
and Late Bishop Devotta for their help in choosing the Diocese
of Port Blair.
|
| Minor Seminary
|
Entered St. Thomas Minor seminary, Santhome, on 15th June, 1981
for the Diocese of Madras- Mylapore
|
|
11th and 12th: Santhome Senior secondary School, Chennai
|
|
2 Years Minor seminary course in Chennai. Finished in April,
1985.
|
| Major Seminary
|
1985 – 1988
|
|
Three years Philosophy in Sacred Heart Major seminary,
Poonamallee, Chennai
|
|
BA History from Madras University (correspondence) and D.Com
(correspondance)
|
| Regency
|
Opted for the diocese of Diocese in 1987.
|
|
Arrived in Port Blair on 15th June, 1988.
|
June to October 1988 - Nirmala Boys Hostel under Fr. Peter
Gomes, Fr. Devanand and Fr. Michael Cruz
|
|
November to December - St. Ignatius Church, Diglipur Under Fr.
Vital Ekka, SJ
|
|
January to June 1989 - St. Thomas Church, Mayabunder Under Rev.
Frs. Salu and Christopher Lakra
|
July to April 1990 - Our Lady of Rosary Church, Oralkatcha
Under Frs. Peter Soares and Custodio.
|
| Major Seminary
|
1990 – 1994
|
| Ordination
|
Ordained by Most Rev. Alex Dias, SFX, on 8th May, 1994 at St.
Thomas Church, Mayabunder.
|
| Appointments
|
|
| 1994-1995
|
Asst. Parish of the Cathedral, In-charge of Nirmala Boys
hostel, Sagritara Pre- Primary school, Chaplin for the Tamil
Community and Asst. Diocesan Procurator.
|
| 1996-1997
|
Diocesan Procurator, Incharge of Diocesan Projects
|
| 1998
|
Asst. Parish Priest in Mayabunder
|
| 1999-2001
|
Studies in St. Peter's Ponticical seminary - Master in Canon
Law
|
| 2001 - 2006
|
Diocesan Financial Administrator, and Project Incharge
|
| 2005-2006
|
Director - Diocesan Social Service Center
|
| 2006-2010
|
Parish Priest, St. Joseph Church, katchal, Nicobar Dt
|
| 2010-2013
|
Parish Priest, Stella Maris Cathedral, Port Blair
|
| 2014-2015
|
Rector, Our Lady of Vailankanni Shrine, Panighat, South
Andaman, Incharge of Diocesan Projects
|
| 2015-2017
|
Diocesan Fianancial Administrator
|
| 2017-2018
|
Vicar General & Chaplin for Tamil Catholic Community.
|
| 1994-1999, 2001-2006, 2010-2018
|
Member of the Diocesan Consultors
|
| 2001 onwards
|
Judicial Vicar/ Chancellor
|
| 9th January 2019 on wards
|
Diocesan Administraor
|
| 29th June, 2021
|
Appointed Bishop of Port Blair
|
| 21st August, 2021
|
Episcopal Ordination
|
|
Principal Consecrator: Most Rev. Alex Dias, Bishop Emeritus of
Port Blair
|
|
Co-Consecrators: Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio
in India
|
|
: Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ., Archbishop of Ranchi
|