Most Rev. John Vadakel CMI

Most Rev. John Vadakel CMI, the second Bishop of Bijnor, was born on 17 August 1943 in Bethlehem parish in the Diocese of Kothamangalam, Kerala. He entered the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and made his first religious profession on 16 May 1964.

He completed his philosophical and theological studies at Dharmaram College, Bangalore, and was ordained a priest on 19 December 1975 by His Excellency Most Rev. Sebastian Mankuzhikary at Sacred Heart Monastery, Thevara, Kerala. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Kerala University, Trivandrum, and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand.

He also earned a Master’s Degree in Spirituality and Counseling from Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore. Most of his priestly ministry was dedicated to the Diocese of Bijnor. On 14 August 2009, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as the second Bishop of Bijnor. He was ordained and installed as Bishop on 22 October 2009 by Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan CMI, Bishop Emeritus of Bijnor, at St. Joseph’s School Ground, Kotdwar. After serving the diocese faithfully for nearly 10 years, he was relieved of his duties on 30 October 2019. He is currently residing at Santhom Ashram, Khatauli, in the Diocese of Meerut.