Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. He is the first pope to have been born in the United States and North America, the first to hold American and Peruvian citizenships, the first born after World War II, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second from the Americas after his predecessor Pope Francis.
Prevost was born in Chicago and raised in the nearby suburb of Dolton, Illinois. He became a friar of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained as a priest in 1982. He earned a Doctor of Canon Law (JCD) degree in 1987, from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
His service includes extensive missionary work in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s, where he worked as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. Elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine, he was based in Rome from 2001 to 2013, and extensively traveled to the order's provinces and missions around the world.
His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Koorilos, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla, hails from the Chakkalapadickal family, a noble lineage of Panackamattom. Born on 19 October 1958 in Pathanamthitta, he was raised with a strong devotion to the Church. Educated in various prestigious institutions, he joined the Minor Seminary of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla in 1974. After completing his higher studies in Pune, he was ordained a priest in 1985.
His Grace has served in multiple parishes and held significant roles, including Secretary to His Excellency Geevarghese Mar Timotheos and Co-ordinator of the Malankara Catholic Community in Delhi. He obtained a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome. In 1997, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla and later became the first Metropolitan of the Eparchy of Muvattupuzha in 2003. Since 2007, he has served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla and currently holds the position of Secretary of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church.
His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church, was born on 15 June 1959 in Mukkoor, Kerala, India. He began his ecclesiastical journey at the Infant Jesus Minor Seminary of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla in 1976 and was ordained a priest in 1986.
He pursued advanced theological studies, earning a Doctorate in Ecumenical Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome. Over the years, he has held various significant roles, including Rector, Chancellor, and Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy of Sultan Bathery.
In 2001, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe. He was later installed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla in 2006 and, in 2007, was elected the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church. Elevated to Cardinal in 2012, His Beatitude is a prominent figure in promoting ecumenism and serving the faithful worldwide.
Rev. Dr. Varghese Manakkalettu is a distinguished priest, scholar, administrator, and legal professional of the Archdiocese of Thiruvalla. He holds a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Catholic Institute, Toulouse, France. His academic qualifications also include MA in Public Administration from Annamalai University, MA in Philosophy from Kerala University, MBA in Hospital Management from Madras University, and LLB from Bangalore University. In addition, he has successfully completed the PSC Account Test (Lower and Higher) of the Government of Kerala (KER & MOP).
Fr. Varghese has served the Church in several important administrative and pastoral roles. He has worked as Secretary to the Bishop of Thiruvalla and has served as Vicar in various parishes under the Archdiocese of Thiruvalla. He has also been a member of the Eparchial Curia and the Eparchial Council of the Archdiocese.
In the field of education, he has served as Professor of Philosophy at St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, and as Professor and Registrar at St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary, Nalanchira.
Rev. Dr. Varghese Manakkalettu has also made significant contributions to the judicial administration of the Church. He has served as Judicial Vicar for the dioceses of Thiruvalla, Muvattupuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Mavelikkara, and currently serves as the President of the Ordinary Tribunal of the Malankara Syrian Major Archiepiscopal Church.
Along with his ecclesiastical responsibilities, he has held important administrative positions such as Director of Pushpagiri Hospital, Thiruvalla, and Executive Director of Rashtra Deepika Ltd., Kottayam. He also serves as Corporate Manager of the Educational Agency of the Archdiocese of Thiruvalla.
Fr. Varghese is also an Advocate in the Bar Association, Thiruvalla, and has actively contributed to several organizations, including serving as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of PWA, and as Vice President of the Oriental Canon Law Society of India.
Through his diverse roles in education, administration, law, and pastoral ministry, Rev. Dr. Varghese Manakkalettu continues to contribute significantly to the Church and society.
It is my great joy to welcome you to our college community. Education is not only about gaining knowledge, but also about shaping character and building a bright future. We believe that every student has great potential, and our mission is to guide and support them in achieving their dreams.
Our college is committed to providing quality education, especially to students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. We focus on academic excellence, moral values, and skill development so that our students can confidently face the challenges of today’s world. We offer various postgraduate and undergraduate programs affiliated with M.G. University. Along with studies, we also encourage students to take part in ltural and social activities for their overall growth.
May your time here be meaningful and successful. I wish you all the very best in your journey with us.
Welcome to Sahyajyothi Arts and Science College, Kumily, the only higher education institution situated near the renowned Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady. Our dedicated faculty and dynamic, enthusiastic students create a vibrant learning environment. We are committed to fostering the holistic development of our students, while maintaining affordable fees to ensure accessible education for all.
