Jacob Roby Chakkalaparambil, O. Carm., has been named director of the Order’s communications office in Rome. This office has responsibility for both the social communications of the Order and its publishing house, Edizioni Carmelitane. His term begins on March 1, the feast of Saint Albinus of Angers.

He comes to the office well prepared. He pursued higher studies in Rome, completing his Bachelor and Licentiate degrees in Social Communications at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He earned a Doctorate in Social Communications at the Salesian Pontifical University. His thesis was entitled The Leadership of Communication of Pope Francis.

During his years in Rome, from 2015 to 2018, he also served as Archivist of the Current Archives of the Carmelite General Curia. A member of the General Commissariat of St. Therese and St. Albert in India, he served as Delegate General from 2018 to 2020 and as Commissary General from 2020 to 2023. From 2023, he was a Councilor of the General Commissariat and the Director of Chris Cappell College. At present, he is serving as a Councilor of the General Commissariat and also as a formator.

He was born in 1975 in Kerala, India. He entered Carmel in 1991 and made his first profession in 1995. He was ordained a priest in 2003 and subsequently served in the West Bengal Mission until 2006.

Fr. Roby replaces William J. Harry, O. Carm., a member of the PCM Province. Fr. William has served two terms as director of the Order’s communications office, with his second term being extended. He will continue with Carmelite Media Publications, the publishing house of his province. He will also continue as president of the Carmelite NGO.