Vatican City. Fr. James Patteril, CMF, was named Second Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Belthangady, India, today, August 28, 2025. He is the son of Mr. Abraham Patteril and Mrs. Rosamma Patteril, born in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, on July 27, 1963. Bishop-elect James Patteril became a member of the Claretian Congregation on June 12, 1982, when he made his first religious profession at Claret Bhavan in Bengaluru (Bangalore). He made his final vows on June 12, 1988, at Claret Bhavan in Kuravilangad and on April 26, 1990, received his priestly ordination at St. Sebastian’s Church in Kalenja. He attended St. Peter’s Seminary in Bangalore to study philosophy and theology. He started his pastoral work in Germany shortly after being ordained in 1994.
Appointments and responsibilities previously held:
- Assistant Parish Priest, St. Thomas Forane Church, Udane (1990–1991)
- Econome, Claret Bhavan, Kuravilangad (1991–1994)
- Hospital Chaplain, Flörsheim (1997–2004)
- Econome, Claretiner-Seminar, Frankfurt (1998–2004)
- Provincial Econome and Consultor (since 2004)
- Superior, Würzburg House (2005–2008, 2010–2011)
- Mission Procurator (since 2008)
The Diocese of Belthangady
The Diocese of Belthangady was erected on 24 April 1999 by the Papal Bull Cum Ampla of Pope St. John Paul II as a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry. It was inaugurated on 4 August 1999. Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy served as the first bishop of the diocese since its erection.
- Area: 12,543 sq. km
- Catholic Population: 30,000 (4,750 families)
- Languages: Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Malayalam, English, Coorgi
- Parishes: 55
- Forane Churches: 8
- Mass Centres: 11
- Priests: 57 incardinated, 27 religious
- Women Religious: 198
We give thanks to God for this appointment of our brother Fr. James Patteril, CMF, as the new shepherd of the Diocese of Belthangady. We pray that he may shepherd the people of God with commitment and love as our Father Founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret, did in Santiago de Cuba.
