Joseph Raja Rao
Indian Roman Catholic prelate (born 1952)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Telagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, SMM, is a Roman Catholic prelate; he has been the Bishop in the Diocese of Vijayawada, since 2016.[1][2]
Bishop Thelagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, SMM Bishop - in - Vijayawada | |
|---|---|
| The Right Reverend | |
| Church | Catholic Church (Societas Mariae Monfortana) |
| Diocese | Vijayawada |
| Appointed | December 19, 2015 |
| In office | 2015- |
| Predecessor | Prakash Mallavarapu, RCM |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Previous posts | Secretary General and Procurator General of Congregation, Rome (2011-2015) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 7, 1980 |
| Consecration | February 2, 2016 by Salvatore Pennacchio, Thumma Bala, Prakash Mallavarapu |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 8, 1952 Pedda Avutapalli, Krishna district, AP |
| Parents | Smt. Kamalamma and Sri T. Prabhudas |
| Occupation | Priesthood |
He was born on 8 March 1952 (in some sources his native name comes last, and in other media sources it's usually omitted).[2] He took Solemn Vows on 31 January 1980 as a Member of Missionaries of the Company of Mary, and on 7 June 1980 was Ordained a Priest in that order.[2] On 19 December 2015, Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Vijayawada, India, and on 2 February 2016, he was Ordained Bishop.[1][2]
As the bishop whose jurisdiction includes a major Catholic shrine, since 2016, Raja Rao has led the annual festival that celebrates Mary Matha in Vijaywada.[3] Raja Rao led the Mass for the annual Gunadala shrine festival in 2023.[4] The prior year's festival had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[5] In 2024, Bishop Raja Rao participated in the celebrations marking the centenary of the Gunadala Mother Mary Shrine in Vijayawada.[6] He also participated in the 2025 Jubilee festivities.[7][8]
Raja Rao is ex officio a member of the board of the St. John's Regional Seminary.
