Ecclesiastical Details - Catholics India

Diocese of Tuticorin

Rite:

Latin

Population:

2,555,000

Status:

Diocese

Catholics:

426169

Founded:

12-Jun-23

Diocesan Priests:

216

Total area:

9000 Sq. km

Religious Priests:

Province:

Madurai

Religious Sisters:

515

Region:

Tamil Nadu

Seminarians:

Patron:

St. Francis Xavier St. Theresa of Lisieux

Languages:

Tamil

Civil States:

Tuticorin Tirunelvely and Kanyakumari

Contact Diocese Office :

Catholic Bishop's House G.C Road Tuticorin 628 001.TAMIL NADU

Telephone 1:

0461-23 20 035 / 0461-23 27 710

Fax:

23 27 710

E-Mail Office:

tutya@dataone.in

Website:

tuticorindiocese.org

Most Rev. Stephen Antony Pillai, Bishops of Tuticorin

Name:

Most Rev. Stephen Antony Pillai

Designation:

Bishops

Canonical Possession:

2019-

Telephone (P):

E-mail (P):

Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Tuticorin

Bishops Name	Designation	Period
	Retired	2005-2019

Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Tuticorin

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres

Educational Institutions

Parishes:

109

Hospitals:

Degree Colleges:

Major Seminaries:

Orphanages:

Technical Training Centres:

Minor Seminaries:

Special Schools:

High Schools:

Monastries:

Crèches:

Lower Primary Schools:

136

Convents:

Counselling Centres:

Presses & Media Centres:

Formation Houses:

Social Centres:

Professional Colleges:

Retreat Centres:

Dispensaries / Clinics:

Parallel Colleges:

Physically Challenged:

Higher Secondary :

Boarding Houses:

Upper Primary Schools:

HIV / AIDS Centres:

Nurseries/Pre-Primary :

De-addiction Centres:

Aged & Destitute:

History of the Diocese of Tuticorin

The Diocese of Tuticorin comprises of the major part of the Tuticorin district nearly half of the Nellai district and a small portion of the Kanyakumari district. The Catholics of this area trace their origin to the time of St. Francis Xavier who spent most of his missionary life in this area.

Separated from the diocese of Tiruchirapalli Tuticorin was created a diocese and entrusted to the diocesan clergy in 1923 by the Apostolic Brief "Quae Catholico Nomini" of Pope Pius XI. It was entrusted to the indigenous clergy with Rt. Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche sj as it's first Bishop. He was also the first Indian Bishop of the Latin Rite.

On April 4 1930 the five parishes of Kooduthalai Manapad (Holy Ghost Church) Punnaikayal Tuticorin (Our Lady of Snows Church) and Vaippar which were till then under the Padroado were amalgamated into the diocese by virtue of the Papal Bull "Quae ad Spirituale" of Pope Pius XI.

Prelates of the Diocese of Tuticorin

Prelate's Status	Period	Prelate's Status	Period
Bishop	1999-2003	Bishop	1980-1999
Bishop	1971-1979	Bishop	1953-1970
Bishop	1923-1953