His Grace Dr. Daniel Acharuparambil, the Archbishop of Verapoly, is a member of Discalced Carmelite Order, Manjummel Province, Kerala, India. He was born of Rocky and Monica Acharuparambil in Palliport, in Kerala, India, on May 12, 1939.

After his School-Leaving Examination he joined the Carmelite order at Ernakulam in May 1956. He completed his philosophy and theology courses at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye and was ordained priest on March 14, 1966. He acquired a bachelor-degree in Economics, Licentiate in Philosophy and a Master-degree in Indian Philosophy from University of Kerala, Pontifical Athenaeum in Poona and Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi respectively.

In 1972 he started teaching at Pontifical University of Urbaniana (P.U.U), Rome. He was awarded a
Ph. D from Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome in 1978.

In 1986 he became Dean of the Faculty of Missiology at P. U. U. From 1988 to 1994, ie for two terms, he also served as rector magnificus at P. U. U.

He had been consulter of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue for 5 years since 1990. He was also consulter of the Congregation for Evangelization of the Peoples. Presently he is a member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Diologue.

He was nominated Archbishop on August 5, 1996 and was consecrated at Ernakulam on November 3, 1996 by His Eminence Josef Cardinal Tomko, the then Prefect of Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Rome. The same day he received the Pallium.

His Excellency, Rt. Rev. Joseph Karikkassery, the Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Verapoly was born of Karikkassery Francis and Agnes on February 13th, 1946, at Karthedom, a traditional parish in the island of Vypin. On May 31st, 1960 he joined the Minor Seminary at Ernakulam. Later, having completed the philosophical studies of three years at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, Aluva, he started with theological studies at Mangalapuzha.

On December 19, 1973 he was ordained priest. He served as assistant parish priest at Kottapuram and at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Elamkulam for three years and five years respectively.

Then he was appointed the director of Holy Angel Institute, Kalamassery.

He rendered his service as parish priest of Perumanoor, Palarivattom, Chathiyath, Cheranellor and Kuttikattukara.He has been also Vice Rector of St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Carmelgiri, where he completed his philosophical studies. In March 2002 he was made the Rector of the Minor Seminary, Kalamassery.

On February 1, 2006 he assumed the office of the Vicar General of Archdiocese of Verapoly. He was nominated the Auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Verapoly and titular bishop of Buxentum (Capo della Foresta) by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on November 25th, 2006.

The Episcopal ordination took place at National Shrine – Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam on December 28, 2006. The most Rev. Dr. Daniel Acharuparambil, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly was the chief-celebrant. The most Rev. Dr. M. Soosa Pakiam, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum and Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Kallarakal, the bishop of Kottapuram were the main concelebrants.