Alencherry was born on 19 April 1945 at Thuruthy in Kottayam. After his school education he joined the seminary and was ordained priest on December 18, 1972.
He had done his B A (Economics) from the Kerala University with second rank, in 1965. After his ordination he successfully completed his M.Th. from the Pontifical Theological Institute, Alwaye where he came first. He also has a D.S.E.B. and D.Th. conjointly from Sorbonne University and Institut Caholique de Paris, France in 1986. During his priestly ministry, he held many offices in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry and elsewhere.
From 1976 to 78 he was the Director of Catechetics, from 1986 to 93 he was the Deputy Secretary of KCBC, from 1986 to 91 he was the Director of the Pastoral Orientation Centre at Palarivattam, Professor at Paurastya vidyapitham, Kottayam from 1986-97, Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry from 1994 to 97.