Most Rev. Dr.T. Sagayaraj

Profile

In the light of the communication received from the Apostolic Nunciature, we wish to inform you that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Sagayaraj Thamburaj, of the clergy of Tiruchirappalli, until now professor at St. Paul’s Seminary, as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Thanjavur (Tanjore).

This provision was made public in Rome on Saturday, 13th July 2024, at noon, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.

Msgr. Sagayaraj Thamburaj was born on 14th March 1969 in Ayyampatty, in the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli. He studied philosophy and theology at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamalle, Chennai, and was ordained a priest on 17th April 1996. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Madras, a master’s degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Madras.

 

He has held the following offices:

 

1996-1997	Assistant Parish Priest, St.Mary’s Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli
1997-2004	Parish Priest, Marianathapuram, Dindigul
2004-2007	Associate Director, Tiruchirappalli Multipurpose Service Society
2001-2007	Secretary of Priests’ Senate
2002-2004	Secretary of SC/ST Commission, Dindigul Episcopal Vicariate
2004-2009	Secretary of SC/ST Commission, Tiruchirappalli
2007-2012	Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre and Coordinator of the Pastoral Commissions and Convenor of the Diocesan Pastoral Council
2001-2007 & 2012-2017	Member of the College of Consultors and the Diocesan Finance Committee
2012-2017	Parish Priest and Vicar Forane, Manapparai
2017-2023	Rector & Parish Priest, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Tiruchirappalli
From 2023	Member of the Faculty of Theology, St. Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirappalli and the President of the Tamilnadu Systematic Theologians’ Forum

 

We send our prayerful greetings and best wishes to Bishop elect Sagayaraj Thamburaj. We entrust the Bishop’s new ministry to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.