Mar Joseph Pamplany, the Bishop of Tellicherry, was born on 3 December 1969 as the fifth son among the seven children of Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Mary Pamplany.  He belongs to St. Sebastian’s Church, Charal. The bishop had his lower primary school education at St. Sebastian’s School, Charal and upper primary, high school education at St. Thomas School, Kilianthara. After having completed his Pre-Degree Course at Nirmalagiri College and graduation from Kerala University, he joined St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Tellicherry.  He completed his philosophical and theological studies at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwayeand was ordained priest on 30 December 1997by Archbishop George Valiamattam.  After ordination he was appointed Assistant Parish Priest at Peravoor, and Parish priest  at DeepagiriParish.  In the year 2001, the bishop was sent to Leuvenfor Higher Studies in Catholic University, Leuvenand obtained a licentiate and doctorate in Biblical Theology. After the completion of his studies, in the year 2006, he was appointed director of the Bible Apostolate of the Archeparchy of Tellicherry.  Bishop Mar Joseph, Founder of Alfa Institute, is also visiting professor at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye, Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kunnoth and St. Peter’s, Bangalore.   The bishop is a well-known theologian, retreat preacher and author of a number of books.  At present, he is Syncellus of the Archeparchy of Tellicherry.  He is proficient in Malayalam, English, German, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. The Titular Sees of the Bishop-elect is NUMLULI.

He was ordained bishop on 8th November 2017. 

He was enthroned as the Archbishop of Thalassery Archdiocese on 20th April 2022.