Fr. Prathap Kumar Appointed Secretary to the Commission for Family

New Delhi, 19 September 2026 (CCBI): 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.

Dr. Stephen Alathara