Fr Joshy Pottackal O.Carm. was ordained auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Mainz, Germany on 15 March. Fr Joshy, a member of the Indian Carmelite Province, has been working in Germany for the past 22 years. For the last 3 years he has been Vicar for Clergy in Mainz.

In his homily during the episcopal ordination, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf (Bishop of Mainz) said:

“'Led by Trust' — this is the episcopal motto you have chosen, dear Father Joshy. As a Carmelite, you have taken the Prophet Elijah and the Blessed Virgin Mary as guiding figures for your path. The decision to rely on God is one for life. If you chose God, you believe in his calling and trust his guidance and place your life in his hands. Your personal plans did not involve becoming Auxiliary Bishop of Mainz. In the foreseeable future, you had intended to take on a missionary service within the universal Church. Now, however, you are a missionary here - a witness of faith, in the diocese in which you have lived for many years, serving as priest and religious in positions of responsibility. You surely needed trust more than twenty years ago, when you came from India to Mainz to serve here as a priest. Time and again you accepted new responsibilities, within your Order and within the Diocese of Mainz. Looking back, you may recognize that God has guided you. In faith, we may entrust ourselves to that certainty."

We warmly congratulate Bishop Joshy and wish him well for his ministry in the Diocese of Mainz.

More photos below and at: https://bistummainz.de/organisation/bistumsleitung/detail/Neuer-Mainzer-Weihbischof-Joshy-Pottackal-geweiht/