Fr. Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian new Bishop of Ahmedabad, India

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian, the new Bishop for the Diocese of Ahmedabad, India. Currently Fr. Athanasius was serving as the Rector of Vianney Vihar, the Interdiocesan Major Seminary in Baroda.

Fr. Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian was born on 10 February 1961 at Parampukkarai, in Tamil Nadu’s Kottar Diocese. He did his priestly studies at St. Charles Major Seminary in Nagpur. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ahmedabad on March 29, 1989. He holds a Licentiate in Clinical Psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

After his priestly ordination he held the following positions:

1989-1991: Parish Priest in Sanand,
1991-1993: Rector of St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Ahmedabad
1993-1994: Dean of St. Xavier's High School, Chavdapura;
1994-1998: Student at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
1998-2002: Rector of Shradha Interdiocesan Seminary, Ahmedabad;
2002-2012: Rector of St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Ahmedabad and spiritual director of Gujarat Vidya Deep Seminary, Baroda.

Since 2012, he has been serving as the Rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary Vianney Vihar, Baroda, teacher and Spiritual Director at Gujarat Vidya Deep, Baroda, and Spiritual Director at St. Joseph's Minor Seminary, Ahmedabad. Member of the Presbyteral Council and Consultor of the Diocese of Ahmedabad.

The Diocese of Ahmedabad was established on May 5, 1949 from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bombay. It has 42 parishes for 70,038 Catholics.