Telangana: Former Archbishop Emeritus Thumma Bala No More
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2024-05-30 09:59 GMT
Hyderabad: The catholic community condole the passing away of former Archbishop Emeritus Thumma Bala, on Thursday at 10:25 am, Karuna Puram, in Warangal, due to old age ailments. He made a visit to his sisters place, breathed last. Funeral mass of Most Rev. will be held on Friday at 11am at St. Mary's school ground, Secunderabad followed by burial at St. Mary's Basilica, Secunderabad. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him at the age of 66 as the Archbishop of Hyderabad on 12 March 2011. He was installed as the tenth Archbishop Hyderabad on 5 May 2011.
Cardinal Poola Anthony expressed his condolences and recollected his services.
Most Rev. Thumma Bala, (80), was the Archbishop of Hyderabad (2011–2020) and Bishop of Warangal (1987–2011).
He was born on 24 April 1944, in Narimetta, Warangal Diocese. He was ordained priest on 21 December 1970. At the age of 42 he was appointed the second Bishop of Warangal on 17 November 1986 and he was ordained Bishop on 12 March 1987. Pope Francis has accepted his resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad on 19 November, 2020.Before appointing as the Bishop he was the rector of St. Paul's Regional Catechists' Training Centre, Nuzivid, Vijayawada diocese from 1978-1980. Professor of Catechetics at St. John's Regional Seminary, Hyderabad from 1984 - 1986. Procurator at St. John's Regional Seminary Hyderabad from 1984-1986.As a Bishop he was the Chairman of Telugu Regional Youth Commission from 1987-1995. Chairman of Jyotirmai Society from 1990 to 1995. Chairman of Regional Catechetical Commission: 1987-1995. Chairman of CBCI Health Commission 2002-2006. Member of Pontifical council for Health Care Apostolate, Vatican: 2002 -2007. He holds Licentiate in Pastoral Theology Catechetics from Pontifical Salesian University, Rome (1980-1983). At the age of 76 he was retired from the active episcopal ministry on 19 November 2020.Te