Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayapuram
Encyclopedia
The Latin Catholic Diocese of Vijayapuram is a diocese
located in the city of Kottayam
in the Ecclesiastical province
of Verapoly in India.
Ad Christi Nomen, His Holiness Pope Pius XI
bifurcated the Archdiocese of Verapoly and erected the Diocese of Vijayapuram on July 14, 1930. The headquarters of the diocese is in Kottayam Municipal Town. As there is an Oriental Catholic Diocese named Kottayam since 1887, the formators decided to name the new diocese Vijayapuram, because it was the name of the Panchayath adjacent to Kottayam town and it was the centre of the Church activities of the Diocese. Vijayapuram is characterized by its multiple specialties. It comprises the entire civil districts of Kottayam
, Idukki and partial portions comprises the entire civil districts of Kottayam, Idukki and partial portions of the districts of Alleppey, Ernakulam
and Pathanamthitta
.
Many factors facilitated the formation of this diocese. The presence of Latin Catholics in this area is due to rapid migration from within and outside the state. The first phase of the migration started in the middle of the 18th century when Latin Catholics from the Diocese of Cochin came to Vaisiambhagom, Nedumudy, Kanjpadam and its vicinities. The second phase began at the first half of the 19th century, when people from different parishes of Quilon
reached Maramon
, Ranny, Vanavathukkara, Thiruvalla, Changanacherry and Poovam. The third phase started by the second half of the 19th century when the high ranges of the eastern side began to be used for cultivation tea
. People from Verapoly, Cochin and from different parts of Tamilnadu settled down in this area for different jobs. The arrival of Brother Rockey Palackal, OCD, at the end of the 19th century geared upon the fourth phase of the history of the Diocese of Vijayapuram. Brother Rockey, as a zealous father, worked hard in Kottayam, Thellakom, Chengalam and Kumarakom and preached the Good News to the native people, especially among the so-called low castes. He opted to serve the poor, sidelined, marginalized and downtrodden and thus secured the name "Apostle of the Outcastes".
The area Church work of the Archdiocese of Verapoly entrusted to the Carmelites
was created to be the Diocese of Vijayapuram. The administration was in the hands of the Carmelites of the Navara Province.
P. Box 82
Kottayam - 686 001
Kerala.
Tel: (0481) 25 63 747 (O), 25 65 863 (P)
Fax: (0481) 25 65 863
Languages spoken: Malayalam and Tamil
Revenue districts: Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Alleppey, Pathanamthitta
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
located in the city of Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
in the Ecclesiastical province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Verapoly in India.
History
- July 14, 1930: Established as Diocese of Vijayapuram from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Verapoly
Leadership
- BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of Vijayapuram (Latin Rite)- Bishop Sebastian Thekethecheril (May 8, 2006 – present)
- Bishop Peter ThuruthikonamPeter ThuruthikonamPeter Thuruthkonam was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayapuram, India. He was born at Vallamkulam, Thiruvalla. He was ordained as a priest on 12 March 1959. He was ordained as the Bishop of the Diocese of Vijayapuram on 4 August 1988. He retired from his office in 2006...
(May 5, 1988 – May 8, 2006) - Bishop Cornelius ElanjikalCornelius ElanjikalCornelius Elanjikal D.D. Ph.D. DC.L. was an Indian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Kerala, India and was ordained a priest on March 18, 1945. Elanjikal was appointed January 16, 1971 to the Diocese of Vijayapuram and was ordained a bishop on April 4, 1971...
(later Archbishop) (January 16, 1971 – January 26, 1987) - Bishop John Ambrose Abasolo y Lecue, O.C.D. (December 25, 1949 – January 16, 1971)
- Bishop Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. (December 3, 1938 – May 9, 1951)
- Bishop Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. (Apostolic Administrator April 13, 1937 – December 3, 1938)
- Bishop Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. (1933 – April 13, 1937)
- Bishop Juan Vicente Arana Idígoras, O.C.D. (March 24, 1931 – June 14, 1946)
History
By the apostolic BullPapal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
Ad Christi Nomen, His Holiness Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
bifurcated the Archdiocese of Verapoly and erected the Diocese of Vijayapuram on July 14, 1930. The headquarters of the diocese is in Kottayam Municipal Town. As there is an Oriental Catholic Diocese named Kottayam since 1887, the formators decided to name the new diocese Vijayapuram, because it was the name of the Panchayath adjacent to Kottayam town and it was the centre of the Church activities of the Diocese. Vijayapuram is characterized by its multiple specialties. It comprises the entire civil districts of Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
, Idukki and partial portions comprises the entire civil districts of Kottayam, Idukki and partial portions of the districts of Alleppey, Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
and Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
.
Many factors facilitated the formation of this diocese. The presence of Latin Catholics in this area is due to rapid migration from within and outside the state. The first phase of the migration started in the middle of the 18th century when Latin Catholics from the Diocese of Cochin came to Vaisiambhagom, Nedumudy, Kanjpadam and its vicinities. The second phase began at the first half of the 19th century, when people from different parishes of Quilon
Quilon
Quilon may refer to,* Venad, a former state on Malabar Coast, India* Kollam , Kerala state, India* Kollam district, Kerala state...
reached Maramon
Maramon
Maramon is a small town on the Pampa River, opposite to Kozhencherry town in the state of Kerala, India. It is 12 km from the Pathanamthitta district headquarters, the town of Pathanamthitta. Maramon is famous because of the Maramon Convention, the largest Christian gathering in Asia...
, Ranny, Vanavathukkara, Thiruvalla, Changanacherry and Poovam. The third phase started by the second half of the 19th century when the high ranges of the eastern side began to be used for cultivation tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
. People from Verapoly, Cochin and from different parts of Tamilnadu settled down in this area for different jobs. The arrival of Brother Rockey Palackal, OCD, at the end of the 19th century geared upon the fourth phase of the history of the Diocese of Vijayapuram. Brother Rockey, as a zealous father, worked hard in Kottayam, Thellakom, Chengalam and Kumarakom and preached the Good News to the native people, especially among the so-called low castes. He opted to serve the poor, sidelined, marginalized and downtrodden and thus secured the name "Apostle of the Outcastes".
The area Church work of the Archdiocese of Verapoly entrusted to the Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
was created to be the Diocese of Vijayapuram. The administration was in the hands of the Carmelites of the Navara Province.
Address
Vijayapuram Bishop's HouseP. Box 82
Kottayam - 686 001
Kerala.
Tel: (0481) 25 63 747 (O), 25 65 863 (P)
Fax: (0481) 25 65 863
Languages spoken: Malayalam and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
Revenue districts: Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Alleppey, Pathanamthitta
Statistics
- Diocesan Clergy: 100
- Religious Priests: 39
- Religious Brothers: 14
- Religious Women: 429
- No. of Parishes: 73
- Houses of Women Religious: 58
- Houses of Men Religious: 16
Educational Institutions
- B. Ed. Colleges: 01
- Students: 120
- Colleges: 01
- Students: 123
- Technical Institutions: 01
- Students: 25
- Collegiates (P.U.C.): 01
- Students: 73
- Sr. Secondary Schools (10+2): 04
- Students: 1,206
- High Schools (10th std.): 14
- Students: 13,235
- Primary Schools: 39
- Students: 24,909
- Hospitals: 05
- Beds: 250
- Dispensaries: 06
- Beneficiaries (Annual): 80200
- Other Institutions: 39
- Beneficiaries (Annual): 2929