Most Rev. John Vadakel

Most Rev. John Vadakel CMI was born on 17 August 1943 at Beslehem Parish in the diocese of Kothamangalam, Kerala. After completing school studies, he joined the Sacred Heart Province of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). He made his first Religious Profession on 16 May 1964. He was then sent to Dharmaram College, Bangalore for his Philosophical studies, where he also completed his Theological studies. He was ordained a Priest on 19 December 1975 by His Excellency Most Rev. Sebastian Mankuzhikary, Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam, at Sacred Heart Monastery, Thevara, Cochin, Kerala. Bp. John holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Kerala University, Trivandrum and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand. He also has a Master’s Degree in Spirituality and Counselling from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore. He spent major part of his Priestly life in the diocese of Bijnor as Priest in-charge of various Mission Stations. It was His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI who appointed him the second Bishop of Bijnor on 14 August 2009. He was ordained and installed Bishop of Bijnor by Most Rev. Bishop Gratian Mundadan CMI, Bishop Emeritus of Bijnor at St Joseph’s Convent School Campus, Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand on 22 October 2009. He served the diocese for 10 years and on 22 October 2019, he got relieved from his Office. He now serves as the Director of St Thomas Church, Khatauli, in the diocese of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

Bishop John Vadakel