Fr. Fabian Toppo New Bishop of Jalpaiguri

Bangalore, February 8, 2025 (CCBI): The Holy Father has appointed Fr. Fabian Toppo (64) as the Bishop of Jalpaiguri on February 8, 2025. Currently he is serving as Professor and Spiritual Director of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Kolkata.

Pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop Clement Tirkey (77) from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Jalpaiguri.

Fr. Fabian Toppo was born on December 21, 1960, in Darupisa, in the Diocese of Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. He studied Philosophy at the Papal Seminary in Pune and Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. He earned a Master's degree in English from the University of North Bengal and later a Doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, as well as a Diploma in Canonical Administrative Law.

He was ordained a priest on December 3, 1994, for the Diocese of Jalpaiguri. After his ordination, he held the following positions: Director of the Candidates’ House and for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue in Jalpaiguri (1994-1998), Pastor of Shanti Rani in Mongradagni (1998-2001), Professor (2002-2007), and Administrator (2020-2021) of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Kolkata. Since 2016, he has been a Professor of Biblical Theology and Spiritual Director at the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Kolkata.

By Dr. Stephen Alathara