Following its executive committee meeting held from 15th to 16th September 2026 in Bangalore, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has announced several key leadership appointments, naming new executive officers and commission secretaries to spearhead various ministries and national movements across the country.
Fr. Darsi Don Bosco, a priest of the Diocese of Vijayawada, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Secretary of the CCBI. The appointment was made by the CCBI Executive Committee at its meeting held from 15th to 16th September 2026 in Bangalore.
Fr. Don Bosco was born on 8 April 1981 in Nuzvid and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Vijayawada. He holds degrees in Philosophy and Theology from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, and pursued higher studies in Theology and Religious Studies at KU Leuven, Belgium, including doctoral and post-doctoral studies. He has also obtained degrees in English Literature, including an M.Phil., from Osmania University and Madurai Kamaraj University.
He has served as a parish priest, youth animator and seminary professor. He has also served as Visiting Faculty at Vianney College, Eluru, and as Professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary College, Louisiana, USA. He founded “Prerana”, a youth animation centre in the Diocese of Vijayawada.
Fr. Don Bosco has been closely involved in Talitha Cumi Unnati, an initiative of the Diocese of Vijayawada focused on the protection, education, spiritual formation and empowerment of vulnerable girls and young women.
Fr. Stephen Arun Lobo, OFM Cap., a priest of the Holy Trinity Province of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins, Karnataka, has been appointed Executive Secretary to the Commission for Ecology of the CCBI. The appointment was made by the CCBI Executive Committee at its meeting held from 15 to 16 September 2026 in Bangalore.
Ordained a priest in 2001, Fr. Arun Lobo has over twenty-five years of experience in pastoral ministry, social action and Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) animation, particularly among rural, tribal and marginalised communities in Karnataka. He has served as Director of various social action institutions of the Capuchin Province, including Vimukti Charitable Trust, Asha Kiran Centre for Deaddiction and Counselling, Vimukti Social Action Cell and Capuchin Krishik Seva Kendra.
Fr. Arun Lobo holds a Master of Social Work from Fordham University, New York, with specialisation in Administration and Macro Leadership, as well as an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the same university. He has also completed studies in Human Resource Management, Theology and Social Work.
Fr. Prathap Kumar Maripi, a priest of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam, has been appointed Secretary to the Commission for Family of the CCBI. The appointment was made by the CCBI Executive Committee at its meeting held from 15th to 16th September 2026 in Bangalore.
Fr. Prathap Kumar was born on 8 January 1988 in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, and was ordained a priest on 31 March 2016 for the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Xavier’s Degree College, Pendurthi, and a Bachelor of Theology from Vijnananilayam, Eluru. He also holds a Master’s degree in English from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Family Therapy from the Payten Institute for Families, Bangalore. He has also completed the Development Dynamics Course at the Caritas Institute of Development Action and Learning (CIDAL), India, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Education.
Since his ordination, Fr. Prathap has served in various pastoral and formation ministries, including as Assistant Parish Priest, Vice Rector of St. Ann’s Minor Seminary and Parish Priest. Since 2024, he has served as Secretary of the Diocesan Family and Laity Commission of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam. He has also been serving as Regional Secretary of the TCBC Family and Laity Commission.
Fr. Alexander Jesudasan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Bhopal, has been appointed National Chaplain of the Young Catholic Students/Young Students Movement (YCS/YSM). The appointment was made by the CCBI Executive Committee at its meeting held from 15 to 16 September 2026 in Bangalore.
Fr. Alexander Jesudasan was born on 24 September 1981 in M.R. Palayam, Trichirappalli, Tamil Nadu, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Bhopal on 2 May 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from BSSS College, Bhopal, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hindi, a Bachelor of Theology from St. Charles Seminary, Nagpur, and a Bachelor of Education. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Psychology.
Since his ordination, Fr. Alexander has served in various pastoral and youth ministries. He has served as Assistant Youth Director and Youth Director of the Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Bhopal and as Regional Youth Director of the Madhya Pradesh Region. He has also served as Secretary to the Archbishop of Bhopal, Director of the Divine Retreat Centre, Bhopal, and Director of the Family Commission. Since 2023, he has been serving as Parish Priest of Vishwajyoti Catholic Church, Ichhawar, Manager of Vishwajyoti Convent School and Director of Vishwajyoti Boys and Girls Hostel in the Archdiocese of Bhopal.
With his extensive experience in youth ministry, pastoral formation, education and family ministry, Fr. Alexander Jesudasan will contribute to the growth and animation of YCS/YSM and to the formation of young people in the Church in India.