Ecclesiastical Details - Catholics India

Diocese of Calicut

Rite:

Latin

Population:

9245689

Status:

Diocese

Catholics:

50201

Founded:

12-Jun-23

Diocesan Priests:

Total area:

32233 sq. kms

Religious Priests:

Province:

Verapoly

Religious Sisters:

709

Region:

Kerala

Seminarians:

Patron:

St. Francis Xavier

Languages:

Malayalam English

Civil States:

Kerala: Calicut Kannur Wayanad Malappuram

Contact Diocese Office :

Bishop's House Malaparamba Calicut - 673 009 KERALA

Telephone 1:

0495-23 70 313 23 76 648 / 23 77 013

Fax:

23 77 013

E-Mail Office:

calicut_diocese@yahoo.com

Website:

calicutdiocese.org

Most Rev. Varghese Chakkalakal, Bishops of Calicut

Name:

Most Rev. Varghese Chakkalakal

Designation:

Bishops

Canonical Possession:

2012-

Telephone (P):

E-mail (P):

Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Calicut

Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Calicut

Pilgrim Place	Website
Mahe, St. Teresa’s Shrine	www.mahechurch.org

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres

Educational Institutions

Parishes:

Hospitals:

Degree Colleges:

Major Seminaries:

Orphanages:

Technical Training Centres:

Minor Seminaries:

Special Schools:

High Schools:

Monastries:

Crèches:

Lower Primary Schools:

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 Calicut

Calicut diocese came into existence on 12th June 1923. Established by Holy Father Pope Pius XI of happy memory separating Malabar from the Diocese of Mangalore and Wayanad from the Diocese of Mysore it was spread out into the six Districts of North Kerala extending from Shoranur to Kasargod. People of different culture language and heredity the descendants of Europeans Portuguese Dutch French and British Anglo- Indians Konkani speaking settlers from Goa and Mangalore Tamilians who came in seeking job opportunities Tribals who were converted to Christianity Dalit Christians natives of the place orthodox Christians who were accepted into the Catholic fold Marthomites Protestants and Latin Catholics who came from other dioceses belonged to this diocese. The period from 1926 saw the immigration of Syrian Catholics from Travancore and they settled down along the high ranges of the western ghats and its vallies along the Malabar area. They were welcomed and looked after by the Diocese of Calicut till the formation of the Diocese of Tellicherry in the year 1954. The Diocesan priests and the Jesuit fathers in Calicut Diocese rendered valuable and whole hearted support to these Syrian Catholics to acquire land at low costs and saw to their all around development in spiritual social educational cultural and financial conditions. Health care and free medical facilities were made available to these people who were attacked by malaria and other contagious diseases. In the fields of education culture social commitment and inter-religious dialogue Calicut Diocese holds high influence in the city of Calicut the cultural centre and capital of North Kerala.

Though the Diocese was erected as the 25th Diocese in India and has completed just 81 years Catholic Church in Malabar has a long history of about 500 years. There are no evidences to show that a catholic community lived in North Malabar before that. When Vasco-De-Gama landed in Kappad beach in Calicut on 20th May 1498. There was with him Rev. Fr. Pedro De Covilam a member of the Trinitarian Religious Order. While Vasco-Da-Gama was settling trade relationship with the Zamorin Raja of Kozhikode Rev Covilam did the work of Evangelization. It was recorded by a Co-traveller Alvaro Wehoe in his diary. The historians like Fr. De Feroli had pointed out that the First missionary of Malabar Rev. Fr. Covilam died on July 31st 1498.

Along with Navy Captain Alvares Cabral there were eight (8) Franciscan Priests and eight (8) Diocesan priests and they landed in Calicut on 13th September 1500 . The Zamorin then reigning in Kozhikode gave permission to the Portuguese to build store houses along the shore and also allowed the missionaries to have evangelization in his territory. In Calicut the missionaries converted a Brahmin to Catholic religion giving him the name Michael De Sancta Maria. He was the first converted Catholic in Malabar. On 16th December 1500 about fifty (50) Portuguese men were got killed in a clash between the Portuguese and the Zamorins and their store house were destroyed. During this fight Rev. Fr. Gasper Pedro Netto and the Masse were killed.

In the year 1501. under the leadership of Joao De Nova the Portuguese Naval Company reached Kannur. The Raja of Kolathiri(Kannur) gave them a warm reception and permitted the four missionaries who were in the group to do the work of evangelizaiton there. It was in the year 1501 that the first Catholic Church was built in Kannur in North Malabar. The records show that in the year 1504 four bishops of the Eastern Syrian Church who came along with the Portuguese from Persia offered sacrifices in this chapel.

The Portuguese Viceroy Francis Seseo De Almeida built the famous St. Angelo Fort in Kannur and along with it he got ready St. James Chapel inside the fort in the year 1505. There were 344 (three hundred and forty four) Catholics in Kannur in the year 1514. It was found recorded among the Archeological collection preserved in the Palace of Lisbon. In the year 1516 Alphonse -de- Albuqarque built a godown and a chapel on the shore of the Kallai river in Calicut. The vicar of this church was Rev. Fr. Diego Moroeas. Vettathuraja of Tanur gave permission to build a church at Chaliam. St. Francis Xavier visited Kannur on 25th December in 1543 and Calicut on 7th March 1549.

It was the Franciscans Dominicans and Augustinian religious Priests who served in Malabar are during the 16th Century.

Prelates of the Diocese of Calicut

Prelate's Status	Period	Prelate's Status	Period
Bishop	1980-2002	Bishop	1948-1980
Bishop	1938- 1940	Bishop	1933-1938
Bishop	1923-1932