G. Prasad
Encyclopedia
G. Prasad is the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuddapah, in the state of Andhra Pradesh
in India
.
St. Mary's Cathedral (built in 1934 in the Gothic style
) in Kadapa
is the seat of the Bishop of Cuddapah.
Earlier, Prasad was a Roman Catholic
clergyman who served as a priest in the diocese of Kurnool soon after his ordination in 1989.
The Bishop is well versed in Latin as well as Telugu
and English
.
Much before the consecration of Bishop Prasad, he seems to have decided on the motto The Lord is my strength and I trust in Him Compare Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts;.....
s in Adoni
in Andhra Pradesh
as the fourth and youngest child. Smt. Mariamma and Sri Jojappa were his parents. He went to school in his hometown, and later joined St. Pius Minor Seminary in Kurnool for a year's course.
(a regional philosophate of the Catholic Church in Andhra Pradesh established in 1982 and managed by the Salesians of Don Bosco), Kondadaba, Visakhapatnam and pursued philosophy. Subsequently, he pursued theology at the St. John's Regional Seminary
in Ramanthapur
, Hyderabad.
After his ordination, Prasad served as a Youth Services Director of the diocese of Kurnool from 1989 to 1993 as well as a warden for St. Mary's Junior College, Kurnool. from 1989 to 1990.
In 1990, he became a parish priest in Koilakunta and continued till 1995.
He also served as Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary
from 1993 to 1995.
. His thesis was entitled Christian Charity as Witnessed by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
In the year 1999, on successful completion of his studies, he was awarded the degree of D.Th.
by the University.
Later, he was sent abroad to North America in 2000 to the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas and assigned a pastoral ministry.
in Kothavalasa
, Visakhapatnam.
appointed Prasad as Bishop of Cuddapah on 31 January 2008. Prasad chose to be consecrated on 1 March 2008, the same date as he was ordained as a priest in 1989.
M. Joji
, the Archbishop of Hyderabad principally consecrated Prasad while the Most Rev. K. Mariadas, Archbishop of Visakhapatnam and the Most Rev. D. M. Prakasam
, Bishop of Nellore were the co-consecrators at the St. Mary's Old Cathedral Grounds, Mariapuram, Cuddapah on 1 March 2008.
Almost all the Catholic Bishops of the Andhra region took part in the consecration. Amongst the ecumenical invitees who was seated alongside the newly-consecrated Bishop was K. B. Yesuvaraprasad, the Church of South India
's Bishop of Rayalaseema.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
St. Mary's Cathedral (built in 1934 in the Gothic style
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
) in Kadapa
Kadapa
Kadapa , formerly Cuddapah, is a city in the south-central part of Andhra Pradesh, India . The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate...
is the seat of the Bishop of Cuddapah.
Earlier, Prasad was a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
clergyman who served as a priest in the diocese of Kurnool soon after his ordination in 1989.
The Bishop is well versed in Latin as well as Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Motto
Ego sum Pastor bonus: I am the good shepherd.Much before the consecration of Bishop Prasad, he seems to have decided on the motto The Lord is my strength and I trust in Him Compare Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts;.....
Early years
Prasad was born into a family of teacherTeacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s in Adoni
Adoni
Adoni , is a municipality, mandal headquarters and commercial town in Kurnool district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is 180 miles from Hyderabad and 307 miles from Chennai by rail. It has a population of about 2,43,247 people . Adoni is 245th biggest city in terms of population in India...
in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
as the fourth and youngest child. Smt. Mariamma and Sri Jojappa were his parents. He went to school in his hometown, and later joined St. Pius Minor Seminary in Kurnool for a year's course.
Divinity
As part of pre-divinity studies, he left for St. John's Regional Seminary (Philosophate)St. John's Regional Seminary (Philosophate)
St. John's Regional Seminary founded in the year 1987 is a propaedeutic seminary equipping students with philosophical training. It is located in the rural town of Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram District in Andhra Pradesh, India.-Affiliation:...
(a regional philosophate of the Catholic Church in Andhra Pradesh established in 1982 and managed by the Salesians of Don Bosco), Kondadaba, Visakhapatnam and pursued philosophy. Subsequently, he pursued theology at the St. John's Regional Seminary
St. John's Regional Seminary
St. John's Regional Seminary is the theologiate of the Catholic Church of Andhra Pradesh. It is a major seminary training students to become priests.St. John's Regional Seminary is situated in Ramanthapur in Hyderabad.-Background:...
in Ramanthapur
Ramanthapur
Ramanthapur is a neighbourhood in the Indian city of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. It lies close to Uppal, between Uppal and Amberpet on the road from Uppal to Kachiguda. Other notable landmarks include the CFSL Hyderabad, the Hyderabad Public School, the Central Detective Training School, the...
, Hyderabad.
Ordination & Pastorship
On 1 March 1989, Prasad was ordained priest for the Catholic Diocese of Kurnool by Bishop Matthew Cheriankunnel, the second Bishop of Kurnool who served from 18 January 1988 to 16 July 1991, in Adoni.After his ordination, Prasad served as a Youth Services Director of the diocese of Kurnool from 1989 to 1993 as well as a warden for St. Mary's Junior College, Kurnool. from 1989 to 1990.
In 1990, he became a parish priest in Koilakunta and continued till 1995.
He also served as Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary
Legion of Mary
The Legion of Mary is an association of Catholic laity who serve the Church on a voluntary basis. It was founded in Dublin, Ireland, as a Roman Catholic Marian Movement by layman Frank Duff. Today between active and auxiliary members there are in excess of 10 million members worldwide making it...
from 1993 to 1995.
Higher Studies & Research
In August 1995, he went to Rome and enrolled as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Theology (D. Th.). in the Pontifical University of St. Thomas AquinasPontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas
The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, also known as the Angelicum, is the Dominican university of Rome, and one of the principal pontifical universities. As such, it is directly dependent on the Pope for its recognition as outlined in the Apostolic Constitution Sapientia Christiana,...
. His thesis was entitled Christian Charity as Witnessed by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
In the year 1999, on successful completion of his studies, he was awarded the degree of D.Th.
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
by the University.
Pastoral ministry
On returning to India in 1999, he was Pastor in St. John's Church, Uppaladadiya till 2000.Later, he was sent abroad to North America in 2000 to the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas and assigned a pastoral ministry.
Professorship
In 2004, he was recalled to India and made Spiritual Director and Professor of Christian Doctrine in the St. John's Regional Seminary (Philosophate)St. John's Regional Seminary (Philosophate)
St. John's Regional Seminary founded in the year 1987 is a propaedeutic seminary equipping students with philosophical training. It is located in the rural town of Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram District in Andhra Pradesh, India.-Affiliation:...
in Kothavalasa
Kothavalasa
Kotha-valasa or Kotta-valasa is a census town and mandal in Vizianagaram district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Kothavalasa is located at . It has an average elevation of 209 meters .-Demographics:...
, Visakhapatnam.
Appointment
Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed Prasad as Bishop of Cuddapah on 31 January 2008. Prasad chose to be consecrated on 1 March 2008, the same date as he was ordained as a priest in 1989.
M. Joji
M. Joji
Marampudi Joji was the third Archbishop of Hyderabad. He was born in Bhimavaram and died at the Bishop's House, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh...
, the Archbishop of Hyderabad principally consecrated Prasad while the Most Rev. K. Mariadas, Archbishop of Visakhapatnam and the Most Rev. D. M. Prakasam
D. M. Prakasam
D. M. Prakasam is the fourth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nellore, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.St. Joseph's Cathedral in Nellore is the seat of the Bishop of Nellore....
, Bishop of Nellore were the co-consecrators at the St. Mary's Old Cathedral Grounds, Mariapuram, Cuddapah on 1 March 2008.
Almost all the Catholic Bishops of the Andhra region took part in the consecration. Amongst the ecumenical invitees who was seated alongside the newly-consecrated Bishop was K. B. Yesuvaraprasad, the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
's Bishop of Rayalaseema.