The clergy, religious and lay faithful of the diocese received the glad news of their new shepherd, Bishop A. Amalraj on 30th June, 2006. His profile glows with examples to show his commitment and contribution into the formation of seminarians for 17 years out of 26 years of his priestly life. While he was only a week long parish priest at St Antony’s Church, Coonoor who took charge after a refreshing sabbatical year in the United States, he was appointed as the Bishop of Ootacamund. His experience in Good Shepherd Seminary, Coimbatore in different capacities as Professor, Vice Rector and Rector makes him a true shepherd according to the spirit and heart of the eternal Good Shepherd. His Episcopal Ordination and canonical possession was held on 9th August, 2006. He is a person endowed with a heart of simplicity, mind of humility, will for everyone’s welfare. With great love for his faithful, he devised a plan and structured the functioning of all the pastoral commissions which is already bearing much fruits in the diocese.

       Taking into consideration the requests for appointments in the schools, he efficiently formed the Commission for Education with a ten-points scale for appointment of teachers. To oversee its implementation a committee called ABODE (Administrative Board of Diocesan Educational Institutions) was formed. With love for his priests, who help him in the administration of the diocese and spiritual welfare of the faithful in all the parishes and institutions he made an open and transparent policy of STARP (1. Solidarity with the Bishop, 2. Truthfulness and Transparency, 3. Accountability and Availability, 4. Rule of Residence and 5. Performance) in their transfers and appointments.

       Knowing the great responsibility of taking the diocese to the next generation, he envisages creative plans. Already in his first year he implemented some of his plans by establishing St Joseph’s College of Education for the natives of this diocese, by completing the long awaited project of the Manos Unidas Animation Centre (USSS) at Charring Cross, by creating new parishes at Thavittupalayam, Nondimedu, and Attadi, by providing adequate facilities for various schools in the diocese and by developing the diocesan shrines like Kandal Cross Shrine and Annai Velankanni Shrine, Pudu Vadavalli, etc. Already many priests are sent for higher studies to be efficient and competent in the fields of education, civil law, canon law, counselling and communication media.