Ecclesiastical Details

Diocese of Neyyattinkara
Heirarchy of the Diocese
Rite:
Latin
Population:
1,332,396
 
Status:
Diocese
Catholics:
120683
 
Founded:
14-06-96
Diocesan Priests:
99
  Total area:
25821 Sq. km
Religious Priests:
43
 
Province:
Trivandrum-Latin
Religious Sisters:
304
 
Region:
Kerala
Seminarians:
34
  Patron:
St. Joseph
  Languages: Malayalam and Tamil.
  Civil States: Kerala: Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad taluks of Thiruvananthapuram district
Contact Diocese Office :
Bishop's House Neyyattinkara Aralummood P.O. Trivandrum 695 123 KERALA.
Telephone 1:
0471-22 23 133 / 0471-22 22 262
Fax:
22 22 262
 
E-Mail Office:
ntabishopshouse@yahoo.co.in
Website:
 
Most Rev. Vincent Samuel, Bishops of Neyyattinkara
Name:
Most Rev. Vincent Samuel
Designation:
Bishops   Canonical Possession: 1996-
Telephone (P):
E-mail (P):
 
Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara
 
Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Neyyattinkara
 
Ecclesiastical Institutions
 
Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres
Educational Institutions
Parishes:
227
 
Hospitals:
   
Degree Colleges:
1
Major Seminaries:
 
Orphanages:
2
   
Technical Training Centres:
2
Minor Seminaries:
 
Special Schools:
1
   
High Schools:
6
Monastries:
61
 
Crèches:
   
Lower Primary Schools:
36
Convents:
 
Counselling Centres:
   
Presses & Media Centres:
Formation Houses:
 
Social Centres:
   
Professional Colleges:
Retreat Centres:
 
Dispensaries / Clinics:
2
   
Parallel Colleges:
 
Physically Challenged:
   
Higher Secondary :
5
       
Boarding Houses:
   
Upper Primary Schools:
11
       
HIV / AIDS Centres:
   
Nurseries/Pre-Primary :
2
       
De-addiction Centres:
2
       
          Aged & Destitute: 1        
     
       
History of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara
 
The Latin Diocese of Neyyatinkara was erected by His Holiness Pope John Paul II by the Bull "Ad Aptius Provehendum" dated June 14 1996. The origin of Christianity in this area dates back to 1600 A.D. The people who received baptism from St. Francis Xavier came and settled in Neyyatinkara Amaravila and Parassala. In 1698 attempts were made to start Church work at Nemom. In 1707 Nemom Church work was started by a Jesuit Father Fr Serveria Borgis. The first converts were from the Nair Community. The first church in this diocese was erected in 1755 at Amaravila.

Widespread Church work in the diocese began at the dawn of the present century. It was the saintly Abp Aloysius Maria Benziger ocd the Co-adjutor Bishop of Quilon in 1900 and Bishop in 1905 who propagated Christian faith in the diocese. His saintly life powerful leadership missionary zeal and generous assistance to Fathers paved the way to the formation of several ecclesial communities and erection of many churches.

The erection of the new Diocese of Neyyatinkara and the appointment of Bp Vincent Samuel as its First Bishop were announced by Bp Soosa Pakiam at the Animation Centre Vellayambalam Thiruvananthapuram on July 16 1996. Bp Vincent Samuel was ordained the Bishop of the new diocese by Cardinal Joseph Tomko on November 1 1996 and he took charge of the diocese on November 5 1996. The diocese consists of the taluks of Nedumangad and Neyyatinkara except the area that was erstwhile under the Padroado.
 
Prelates of the Diocese of Neyyattinkara