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
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
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

1. "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
2. "Glorified Souls - Archdiocese of Trichur". www.trichurarchdiocese.org. Retrieved 26 February 2020.

External links

• Archdiocese of Thrissur