Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri (Latin: Dharmapurien(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Dharmapuri in the ecclesiastical province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in India. This Diocese administrate the political region of Dharmapuri district and Krishnagiri district.[1]

Diocese of Dharmapuri

Dioecesis Dharmapuriensis

தர்மாபுரி மறைமாவட்டம்
Catholic
Location
Country India
Ecclesiastical provincePondicherry and Cuddalore
MetropolitanPondicherry and Cuddalore
Deaneries5
Statistics
Area9,622 km2 (3,715 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2013)
3,386,631
52,169 (1.8%)
Parishes45
Churches57
Information
RiteRoman Rite
Established1997
CathedralSacred Heart Cathedral, Dharmapuri
LanguageTamil
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopLawrence Pius Dorairaj
Metropolitan ArchbishopFrancis Kalist
Vicar GeneralA. Ambrose
Website
www.dharmapuridiocese.org

History

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The history of the Dharmapuri Diocese is closely linked to that of the Diocese of Salem, from which it was separated from 24 January 1997. Christianity was introduced to the Salem Diocese in 1623 by Jesuit Robert De Nobili, followed by the Portuguese Jesuits of Madurai Missions. In 1654, Italian Jesuits from Mysore established their residence in Dharmapuri and began preaching the Gospel in the region, extending as far as Tirupattur in North Arcord.

In 1674, John de Britto visited Dharmapuri on his way to Kolei, accompanied by Fr. Antony Ribero. In 1687, the Church's work started to spread in the present districts of Salem and Dharmapuri. Despite the suppression of the Jesuits under the Pombal decree, they continued their mission under the jurisdiction of Cranganore.

In 1776, the Pope entrusted the Madurai Missions and the Malabar Missions to the MEP Fathers. In 1785, Chapenois, MEP Superior of the Malabar Mission, was given the responsibility by Rome to oversee the entire Mysore Mission, which included the old Diocese of Salem. In 1794, he became the first bishop to visit the Diocese of Salem and appointed Abbe Dubois to carry out the church's work.

Until 1930, this region remained under the administration of the Coramandal Missions and later the Apostolic Vicariate of Pondicherry, which became an archdiocese in 1886. However, Hosur Taluk was entrusted to the care of the Mysore Missions from 1861. On 3 August 1930, the Diocese of Salem was established.

Due to the vastness of the Diocese of Salem, the district of Dharmapuri was separated and declared a diocese by Pope John Paul II on 24 January 1997. Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj, a Salesian, was appointed as its first bishop. After 15 years of ministry, Irudayaraj retired on 13 January 2012, due to his advanced age. Lawrence Pius became the second bishop and was installed in the See of Dharmapuri on 20 February 2012. Under his leadership and the motto "To Proclaim the Good News to the Poor," the diocese has witnessed ongoing development in various fields. The Dharmapuri Diocese is the 15th diocese in the Tamil Nadu region.[2]

Leadership

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Parishes

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This diocese has 45 Parish,[4] which are bifurcated under 5 Vicariates[5]

± = also Vicariate parish

Parish Established Parish church Sub-station church
Adaikalapuram 1962 St. Mary's Church
Averipally 2022 Our Lady of the Rosary Church
B.Pallipatti 1930 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our Lady of Lourdes Church, B.Pallipatti
Bagalur 1999 Mary Help of Christians Church
Bargur - Kottur 1999 St. Antony's Church
Biligundu 2009 St. Antony's Church
Bommidi 1955 St. Antony's Church Periyanayagi Annai Church, Kalaignar Nagar
Christhupalayam 1932 Immaculate Conception Church
Dasarapalli 1953 Christ the King Church
St. Antony's Church, Dasarapalli X Road
St. Antony's Church, Thalikothanur
Denkanikottai ± 1973 Little Flower Church St. Joseph Church, AVS, Denkanikottai
Dharmapuri ± 1968 Sacred Heart Cathedral
Dhinnur 2023 St. Paul the Hermit Church
Elathagiri 1901 Our Lady of Refuge Church
Holy Family Church (Paarai Kovil)
Infant Jesus Chapel, Kulandhai Yesu Nagar
Periyanayagi Church, J.C. Pudur
Poondi Madha Church, Rayapanoor
Sagayamadha Church, Sagayapuram
Gopasandiram 2020 Queen of Heaven Church
Harur ± 1973 Sacred Heart Church St. Antony's Church, Nadiyanur
Hogenakkal-Ootamalai 2002 Our Lady of the Falls Church
Hosur ± 1979 Sacred Heart Church
Hosur - Divine Nagar 2013 St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Hosur - Sipcot 2000 Our Lady of Lourdes Church St. Joseph, the worker Church, Dharga
Kadagathur 1910 St. Mary's Church
Our Lady of Refuge Church, K.N.Savulur
St. Teresa of Baby Jesus Church, Kollagathur
Kandikuppam 1979 Queen of Heaven Church
Infant Jesus Church, Achamangalam
Our Lady of Refugee Chapel, Kamaraj Nagar
Velankanni Arokiya Madha Chapel, Kockanoor
Vannathu Andoniyar Church, Thandavanpallam
Kathanpallam 2018 St. Joseph Church
Kaveripattinam 2009 Our Lady of Peace Church
Kembathpalli 2023 St. Xavier Church
Kelamangalam 1996 Sacred Heart Church
Kethanahalli 2000 St. Francis Xavier's Church Our Lady of Good Health Church, Thumbalahalli Dam
Kovilur 1856 St. Xavier's Church
St. Antony's Church, Chittoor
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Kottampatti
St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Narthampatti
Krishnagiri ± 1930 Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Oldpet
St. Joseph Church, Periyarikodi
Sacred Heart Church, V.Madepalli
Mathagondapalli 1930 Sacred Heart Church
Mathigiri 1926 Our Lady of Good Health Church Our Lady of Good Health Heritage Church, Kudhraipalayam
Nellimarathupatti 2010 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Onnalvadi 2002 Our Lady of Help Church Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Chennathur
Palacode 1985 Christ the King Church
Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Savadiyur
Our Lady of Assumption Church, Kesarkuli Dam
Pappireddipatti 2002 Our Lady of Velankanni Church
Poolapatti 2010 St. Sebastian's Church
Pushpagiri 2015 St. Therese of the Child Jesus Our Lady of Garland of Flowers, Madha Malai
Rayakottai 1999 Our Lady of Lourdes Church Our Lady of Good Health Church, Panjampalli
Selliampatti 2016 Infant Jesus Church
St. Mary Magdalene Church, Gollapatti
St. Francis Xavier Church, Selliampatti
St. Joseph Church, Valan Nagar
St. Antony's Church, Anthoniyar Nagar
Sesurajapuram 1979 John de Britto Church Our Lady of Good Health Church, Arokiapuram
Shoolagiri 2005 Our Lady of Velankanni Church St. Antony Church, Kamaraj Nagar
Sollepuram 2014 Our Lady of Lourdes Church St. Antony Church, Balagiri
Sundampatti 1988 St. Anthony of Padua Church Vanathu Chinnapar Church, Soorankottai
Thenkaraikottai 1952 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Uthangarai 1982 St. Antony's Church
Visuvasampatti 1969 Our Lady of Lourdes Church

References

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  1. ^ "Dharmapuri Diocese". dharmapuridiocese.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Salem Diocese - Welcome to Diocese of Salem". salemdiocese.org. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  3. ^ "News Letter Dharamapuri Diocese" (PDF). News Letter (in Tamil). Dharmapuri: Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri. June 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Parishes". Dharmapuri Diocese. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Diocese Activities and Organizations of India". Union of Catholic Asian News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023.
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12°08′10″N 78°09′51″E / 12.1362°N 78.1643°E / 12.1362; 78.1643