George Njaralakatt
Mar George Njaralakatt is an archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. He served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry from 2014 until his retirement on 15 January 2022. He was also the first Bishop of the Diocese of Mandya. Known for a pastoral style often described as "lovely, paternal, and approachable," he played a significant role in organizing the migrant Syro-Malabar community in Karnataka and revitalizing catechetical formation in India.
Early life
George Njaralakatt was born to Varkey and Mary Njaralakatt on 23 June 1946 at Kalayanthani in Thodupuzha Taluk in Idukki District. His LP School studies were at St. Josephs School, Arakuzha and he completed UP at St. Marys High School near Muvattupuzha. His family migrated to Malabar in 1960 and settled in Nadavayal, Wayanad, where he completed high school studies at St. Thomas High School, Nadavayal. After high school he joined St. Joseph's Minor Seminary Thalasserry, Tellicherry, later on he completed his philosophy and theology at, achieved a BA degree at Mysore University. He also holds a Licentiate in Catechetical Theology from Salesian Pontifical University, Rome.Priesthood
After completing college studies, he joined St. Joseph's Minor Seminary in Thalasserry in 1963. He was ordained a priest on 20 December 1971 at Thalassery by Sebastian Valloppilly. Following his ordination, he served in various pastoral capacities within the archdiocese, including a tenure as Vicar General of the Diocese of Bhadravathi. From 2007 to 2010, he served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha.Episcopal ministry
Bishop of Mandya (2010–2014)
On 18 January 2010, he was appointed the Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Mandya, in Karnataka and was consecrated on 7 April 2010 at the Infant Jesus Cathedral Church at Hinkal, Mysore.As the first shepherd of the "infant diocese," Mar Njaralakatt was tasked with building the diocese's administrative and pastoral foundations from the ground up. The region was largely a mission field, home to thousands of Syro-Malabar migrants who had left Kerala for employment but lacked a cohesive ecclesiastical structure. His tenure was marked by extensive travel to remote mission stations to connect with the scattered faithful. He focused on establishing systems to address the "pain of the migrant," prioritizing the preservation of liturgical identity among the diaspora. His foundational work paved the way for the diocese's later expansion to include Bengaluru.