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Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Appoints Fr. Shiju Joseph, C.S.C., as New First Assistant and Vicar General

Author: General Administration

Fr. Shiju Joseph, C.S.C.

On 14 October, in an email to the membership of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, announced his appointment of Fr. Shiju Joseph, C.S.C., of the Province of South India, asthe Congregation’s new First Assistant and Vicar General. Br. Bednarczyk made the appointment, which took effect immediately, following the required consultations with the General Council and Provincial Superiors.

Fr. Joseph replaces Fr. Emmanuel Kallackaral, C.S.C., the previous First Assistant and Vicar General, who died unexpectedly and suddenly on 29 August 2026.

Fr. Shiju comes from Kidangoor, Kerala. After joining the Congregation, he made his First Vows in 1995. He then professed Final Vows on 5 October 2001 and was ordained a priest on 6 January 2003. In addition to bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology, Fr. Shiju has both a master’s degree and a doctorate in sociology. He did his PhD through the Institute for Social and Economic Change, which is part of the University of Mysore.

Fr. Shiju Joseph, C.S.C. with graduates

After beginning his pastoral ministry in St. Joseph’s Church, Chengalam, in Kerala, he worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Provincial House and then at Holy Cross Family Ministries in Bangalore. He then spent one year as Assistant Director of Formation at Holy Cross Functional Education Centre in Bangalore before beginning his doctoral studies. While still finishing his PhD, Fr. Shiju was assigned as Vice-Rector at Holy Cross Seminary in Pune in 2014. Two years later, he was appointed Rector, serving in that capacity until 2022. During his eight years in Pune, Fr. Shiju also served on the faculty of the Department of Social Sciences at the Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Religion. Since 2022, he has been the Executive Director and Research Director of the Peyton Institute for Families in Bangalore.

In addition, Fr. Shiju served for four consecutive terms on his Provincial Council from 2009 to 2021, including as Vice Provincial for the final three years. He has served on three Congregational Commissions: the Commission for Vocations and Formation (2016-2019), the Commission for Consecrated Life and Heritage (2022-2025), and the Year of Mission Task Force (2024-2026). He also was a delegate at the 2016, 2019, and 2022 General Chapters.