Ecclesiastical Details - Catholics India

Diocese of Bathery

Rite:

Syro-Malankara

Population:

20702500

Status:

Diocese

Catholics:

24500?

Founded:

28-Oct-78

Diocesan Priests:

Total area:

75000 sq. kms.

Religious Priests:

Province:

Tiruvalla

Religious Sisters:

295

Region:

Kerala

Seminarians:

Patron:

St. Thomas Apostle

Languages:

Malayalam Tamil Kannada and English.

Civil States:

Kerala: Wayanad Malappuram Kozhikode Kannur ofKerala Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu Mysore MandyaCoorg Hassan Chickmangalore South Kanara Shimoga of Karnataka.

Contact Diocese Office :

Catholic Bishop's HouseDharmapitam Sultan Bathery - 673 592 KERALA

Telephone 1:

04936-220207 / 22 12 87

Fax:

22 12 87

E-Mail Office:

bishopbty@gmail.com

Website:

dioceseofbathery.com

Most Rev. Joseph Thomas, Bishops of Bathery

Name:

Most Rev. Joseph Thomas

Designation:

Bishops

Canonical Possession:

2010-

Telephone (P):

E-mail (P):

Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Bathery

Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Bathery

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres

Educational Institutions

Parishes:

101

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 Bathery

The Diocese of Tiruvalla was extended from the river Pampa to the south to the river Ponnani in the north. It was on February 14 1958 that the Holy See by the Decree Prot. 534/43 further extended the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Tiruvalla to the whole of Malabar Region of Kerala the Civil Districts of Coimbatore Nilgiris and Karur Taluk in Tiruchirapally Districts of Tamilnadu and the Districts of Mysore Mandya Hassan Coorg Chickmangalore Shimoga and South Kanara in Karnataka.

After the extension of the Dicoese a few priests were sent to the new regions by His Excellency late Zacharias Mar Athanasios the third Bishop of Tiruvalla. These pioneers of the Malabar Mission began to work zealously among the Malankara faithful concentrating on a few centres like Bathery Mananthavady Nilambur Edakkara Karuvarakundu and Maikavu. In 1963 Mar Athanasios sent two priests to South Kanara (Karnataka) to work among the Malankara faithful who had migrted from Kerala. Desiring to establish the identity of the Malankara Catholic Church and to accelerate the Reunion Movement in the newly organized territories His Excllency Zacharias Mar Athanasios requested the Holy See to bifurcate the Diocese of Tiruvalla and to erect a new Diocese with Sulthan Bathery as its headquarters. His Holiness Pope John Paul responded to the request and erected the new Diocese of Bathery on October 28 1978 at Mar Theophilos Nagar (St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church Campus Thirumoolapuram) Tiruvalla by His Grace Benedict Mar Gregorios the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church.

It was on February 2 1979 that His Excellency Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios the first Bishop of Bathery officially took charge of the Diocese. The Enthronement (Sunthroniso) ceremony took place at the St. Thomas Pro-Cathedral at Sulthan Bathery. The existing 8500 Malankara Catholics were organised in 43 Parishes and Mission Stations by zealous and committed priests of whom 18 belonged to the Diocese of Tiurvalla and 2 belonged to the Bethany Ashram. 13 Bethany Sisters and 17 Sisters of the Deena Sevana sabha also gave valuable services in different parts of the Diocese. After serious thoughts and prayerful reflection it was concluded that the most urgent need in the Diocese was nothing but proper community formation both in its ecclesial and social sense. The Archdiocese of Trivandrum and the Diocese of Tiruvalla had generously given the services of some of their zealous and active priests. Thousands of families besides some prominent priests came into the full communion of the Catholic Church. Many Parishes and Mission Stations were opened. Infact many people from the Sister Churches requested the Diocese to start the Malankara Catholic Mission Stations in their locality.

Mar Baselios instituted a few departments for the effective realization of the goals set by the Diocese. There were the departments of Cahtechetics Youth Family and Bible which were instituted in view of forming and uniting the whole people namely children Youth Men and women of the Diocese. The Diocese also gave due importance to its social commitment taking seriously the life situation of the people around. The Diocese chalked out a social programme aimed at promoting the integral growth of men and women. The Social Service Centre named Shreyas which is the official organ of the Diocese of promoting justice and fellowship is instituted in view of creating a more human and just society based on Gospel values through a scientific programme of mass education mass mobilization and mass action. The Diocese also started few educational institutions under the Corporate Educational Agency of the Dicese to impart a value based education to the youth in the Diocese irrespective of caste and creed.

After 17 years of inspiring leadership in the Diocese His Excellency Mar Baselios left for Trivandrum on December 12 1995 as he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum and the Head of the Malankara Catholic Church. His Grace Cyril Mar Baselios took charge of the Church and of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum on December 14 1995.

From December 14 1995 till February 5 1997 the Diocese was led by Msgr. Thomas Thannickakuzhy as its Aministrator. On December 18 1996 His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Very Rev. Dr. Varghese Ottathengil the then Rector of St. Mary's Malankara Major Seminary Trivandrum as the new Bishop of Bathery. Msgr. Varghese Ottathengil was consecrated a Bishop on February 5 1996 at Mar Athanasios Nagar Bathery (St. Joseph's School Ground) by His Grace Mar Baselios the Head of the Malankara Catholic Church.

Msgr. Mathew Nedungatt and Msgr. Thomas Thannickakuzhy served the Diocese as its Vicar General from 1980-82 and 1984 to 1998 respectively. The Diamond Jubilee of the Malankara Reunion Movement was celebrated in the Diocese of Bathery on 20 21st September 1990 at Sulthan Bathery.

His Eminence Wladislao Cardinal Rubin the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches visited the Diocese on January 9 1981 and inaugurated the Pastoral Council and parish Senate in the Diocese.

The Diocese of Bathery was blessed by the visit of His Eminence Simon D. Cardinal Lourdusamy the then Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on August 25 1987.

At present the Diocese of Bathery comprises the Civil Districts of Wayanad Malapppuram Kozhikode Kannur and Kasargod of Kerala Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu and Mysore Mandya Coorg Hassan Chickmangalore South Kanara Uduppi and Shimoga of the Karnataka State.

The ecclesiastical Districts of the Diocese at present are Bathery Nilgiris Nilambur Kozhikode Kannur South Kanara and Shimoga.

Prelates of the Diocese of Bathery

Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period	Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period
	Bishop	1996 -2010		Archbishop	1978- 1996