Fr Thomas Koonan was born on 24 June 1968 in Chalakudy, Kerala, India, to Ouseph and Mary.
He joined the Salesian aspirantate at Mannuthy in 1980 and completed his schooling and pre-novitiate at Aluva. He joined the novitiate at Kotagiri and made his first profession there in 1986. He, then, journeyed to Sonada in the Province of Calcutta for his philosophical studies, graduation, and practical training. He completed his theological studies at Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore, and was ordained a priest on 26 December 1995 at Chalakudy.
Fr Koonan brings proven expertise and leadership to his new responsibility. He was the Vice Provincial and Youth Pastoral Delegate of Bangalore from 2009 to 2015. In addition to these provincial responsibilities, he has a rich and wide-ranging experience in diverse roles across formation and higher education. He was the Rector of the Post-novitiate at Aluva, of the Don Bosco College at Angadikadavu, and the aspirantate at Mannuthy. At the time of his appointment, he was the Vice Rector and Principal of Don Bosco College, Yadagiri, Karnataka. He speaks several languages among which are the two major regional languages of the province: Kannada and Malayalam. He is known for his authenticity, simplicity, commitment to the Salesian charism, and having a heart for the poor.
Fr Thomas Koonan will be the ninth Provincial of the Bangalore Province and will succeed Fr Jose Koyickal, who has been Provincial since 11 February 2021. The date of installation is yet to be fixed.
The Salesian Province of Bangalore extends across the states of Karnataka and Kerala in South India and has presences in 21 dioceses and 29 civil districts. The Province comprises 386 confreres and six novices in 48 communities. The confreres reach out to poor and marginalized young people through 25 schools, 24 youth hostels, 23 youth centres, 21 centres for youth at risk, 16 parishes, 8 colleges, 6 technical schools, 2 counselling centres, and various other centres and services.
