Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Trichur, in Thrissur District of Central Kerala, India, with nearly half a million Syro-Malabar Catholics now, used to be the largest Catholic diocese in India when it included the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda until 1978 and Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palghat until 1973. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda, also located in Thrissur District, has over a quarter million Syro-Malabar Catholics now. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat in Central Kerala extends to some regions in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. In 2010, the parts of Tamil Nadu under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat were separated to form another Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram.
Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Trichur | |
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Location | |
Country | India |
Territory | Thrissur district |
Ecclesiastical province | Kerala |
Metropolitan | Thrissur |
Statistics | |
Population - Total - Catholics | 2,018,635 470,056 |
Parishes | 205 |
Churches | 254 |
Schools | 23 |
Members | 500,000 |
Information | |
Denomination | Syro-Malabar Catholic Church |
Rite | East Syriac Rite |
Established | 1887 |
Cathedral | Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, |
Co-cathedral | Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours |
Patron saint | Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop | Mar Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur |
Auxiliary Bishops | Bishop Mar Tony Neelankavil |
Vicar General | George Edakulathur |
Bishops emeritus | Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy |
Website | |
www.trichurarchdiocese.org |
History
The diocese was founded on 20 May 1887 by Pope Pius XI by his papal bull Quod iam pridem. The boundaries of diocese were from Periyar (river) in Aluva to Bharathappuzha. Later it was extended to Palakkad district and extended to Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu and was the largest Catholic diocese in India.
Parishes and population
The total number of parishes is 205. In addition, there are 52 stations in the archdiocese. The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Thrissur Archdiocese is over 475,000. There are 16 foranes under Thrissur Archdiocese. They are:
Serial No. | Forane | Parishes | Stations | Houses | Catholic Population |
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1 | Lourdes Cathedral | 17 | 1 | 11746 | 59539 |
2 | Dolours' Basilica | 16 | 0 | 10095 | 54777 |
3 | Chelakara | 11 | 1 | 1615 | 8080 |
4 | Erumapetty | 11 | 1 | 2452 | 12285 |
5 | Kandassankadavu | 13 | 6 | 6933 | 39781 |
6 | Kottekad | 8 | 2 | 4994 | 26134 |
7 | Mattom | 8 | 5 | 3761 | 18471 |
8 | Ollur | 14 | 5 | 1052 | 53211 |
9 | Palayur | 14 | 2 | 5873 | 29696 |
10 | Parappur | 10 | 5 | 3783 | 17685 |
11 | Pattikad | 12 | 0 | 2609 | 13735 |
12 | Pazhuvil | 12 | 4 | 4425 | 24892 |
13 | Pudukad | 18 | 4 | 11038 | 61064 |
14 | Puthur | 10 | 0 | 3232 | 16040 |
15 | Velur | 13 | 2 | 3775 | 18528 |
16 | Wadakkanchery | 13 | 1 | 5174 | 26872 |
Suffragan dioceses
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat
Vicars Apostolic
- Mar Adolph Medlycott (1887 − 1896)
- Mar John Menachery (1896 − 1919)
Bishops
- Mar Francis Vazhapilly (1919 − 1944)
- Mar George Alapatt (1944 − 1970)
Archbishops
- Mar Joseph Kundukulam (1970 − 1997)
- Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy (1997 − 2007)
- Mar Andrews Thazhath (2007 −)
Saints and causes for canonisation
- St. Euphrasia Eluvathingal[1]
- St. Maria Theresa Chiramel[2]
- Ven. Augustine John Ukken[1]
- Ven. Joseph Vithayathil[2]
- Servant of God Fr. Antony Thachuparambil[1]
- Servant of God Sr. Maria Celine Kannanaikal, UMI[2]
References
- "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- "Glorified Souls - Archdiocese of Trichur". www.trichurarchdiocese.org. Retrieved 26 February 2020.