# Soosa Pakiam

Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam (born 11 March 1946) is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Latin Rite Archdiocese of Trivandrum.

## Biography

Born in Marthandanthurai village of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, Maria Calista Soosa Pakiam alias M. Soosa Pakiam was ordained as a Priest on 20 December 1969 at the age of 23. Pope John Paul II named him coadjutor bishop of Thiruvananthapuram in December 1989.
He was consecrated as a bishop on 2 February 1990 and took over from Emeritus bishop Rev. Dr. Jacob Acharuparambil as Bishop of Thiruvananthapuram in January 1991. He became the first metropolitan Archbishop of newly erected Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese On 23 June 2004.
Soosa Pakiam has headed the KCBC and Kerala region Latin catholic bishop council.
On 22 February 2021, Soosa Pakiam unofficially retired due to ailing health and Auxiliary Bishop Christudas Rajappan took over his duties. On 2 February 2022, Pope Francis officially accepted Soosa Pakiam's resignation and named Dr. Fr. Thomas J. Netto as the archbishop of Trivandrum.

## Course of School studies (where and When)

| Lower Primary | St.Aloysius, Marthandanthura | Year | 1950 |
| Upper Primary | St.Aloysius, Marthandanthura | Year | 1955 |
| Middle School | St.Aloysius, Marthandanthura | Year | 1955-1958 |
| High School | St.Joseph's H.S., Trivandrum | Year | 1958-1961 |
| Minor Seminary | St.Vincent's Seminary, Palayam | Year | 1958 – 1963 |
| Major Seminary (Philosophy) | St.Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye, Carmelgiri. | Year | 1963 – 1966 |
| Major Seminary (Theology) | St.Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Alwaye | Year | 1966 – 1970 |
| Ordination | St.Joseph's Cathedral, Palayam, Tvm | Year | 20.12.1969 |
| Higher Studies | Liturgical Institute and Biblical Institute, Rome | Year | 1972 – 1977 |
| Degrees | S.Th.L.L.,S.S.L.,Rome | Year | |

## Position Held

| sl.no. | Field of Activity | Year |
| 1 | Assistant Warden, Catholic Hostel, Palayam | 1970 April – July |
| 2 | Vicar Co-operator, Vlathankara | 16.07.1970 – 24.05.1971 |
| 3 | Prefect, St.Vincent's Seminary, Palayam | 24.05.1971 – 12.09.1972 |
| 4 | Vicarius Substitutes of the parishes of Poovar,Karinkulam and Kochuthura | 1972 April – May |
| 5 | Parish Priest of Thycaud | 13.11.1977 – 01.05.1979 |
| 6 | Director of Orientation Centre | 13.11.1977 – 23.06.1978 |
| 7 | Diocesan Director of Communication Media | 13.11.1977 – 01.05.1979 |
| 8 | Diocesan Director of Biblical Apostolate,Catechism and Sacred Liturgy | 23.11.1977 – 01.05.1979 |
| 9 | Spiritual Father of St.Vincent's Seminary, Palayam | 23.06.1978 – 01.05.1979 |
| 10 | Spiritual Father of St.Joseph's Pontificial Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Alwaye | 15.05.1979 – 17.05.1986 |
| 11 | Spiritual Father of St.Joseph's Pontificial Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Alwaye | 15.05.1979 – 17.05.1986 |
| 11 | Professor of Sacred Liturgy and Scripture, St.Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Alwaye | 01.06.1979 – 17.05.1986 |
| 12 | Rector, St.Vincent's Seminary, Kazhakuttom | 17.05.1986 |
| 13 | Diocesan Consultor | 12.01.1988 |
| 14 | Diocesan Director of Priestly Training | 01.08.1988 |
| 15 | Nominated Co-adjutor bishop of Trivandrum (Latin) by Pope John Paul II | 02.12.1989 |
| 16 | Appointed Apostolic Administrator of the diocese of Trivandrum | 13.01.1990 |
| 17 | Date of Episcopal Ordination (Consecration) | 02.02.1990 |
| 18 | Appointed Bishop of Trivandrum | 31.01.1991 |
| 19 | Chairman for Catechetical Commission of (KCBC) Kerala Catholic Bishop's Conference | 1995 -1998 |
| 20 | Chairman, Commission for the Ministry of Word and Worship of (CCBI) Catholic Conference Bishop of India | 1997 – 2003 |
| 21 | Chairman, Commission for the Ministry of Word and Worship of (KRLCBC)Kerala Regional (Latin) Catholic Bishop's Conference | 1997 – 2003 |
| 22 | Member, Seminary Commission of (KCBC) Kerala Catholic Bishop's Conference | 1990 – 1997 |
| 23 | Chairman, Commission for Anti-Alcoholism of KCBC (Kerala Catholic Bishop's Conference) | 1998 - 2005 |
| 24 | Chairman, Jubilee 2000 of KCBC (Kerala Catholic Bishop's Conference) | 1999 – 2000 |
| 25 | Member in ICEL (International Committee for English Liturgy) | 1999 – 2002 |
| 26 | Vice President of KRLCBC (Kerala Regional (Latin) Catholic Bishops Conference) | 2002 – 2007 |
| 27 | Chairman of Laity Commission in KRLCBC (Kerala Regional (Latin) Catholic Bishops Conference) | 2002 – 2009 |
| 28 | Chairman of the Laity Commission in CBCI (Catholic Bishops Conference of India) | 2002 – 2004 |
| 29 | Member of the FABC Commission for Laity | 2003 -2005 |
| 30 | Appointed first Metropolitan Archbishop to the newly erected Archdiocese of Trivandrum (Latin) | 17.06.2004 |
| 31 | President of KRLCBC (Kerala Regional (Latin) Catholic Bishops Council) | 2009-2019 |
| 32 | President,(KCBC) Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference | 2016 - 2019 |
| 33 | Retired as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum | 02.02.2022 |
| 34 | Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum | 02.02.2022-19.03.2022 |