Eldarmrk at 03:22, 20 April 2026

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{{Short description|Roman Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction = Diocese
| name = Kuzhithurai
| latin = Kuzhithuraien(sis)
| local = 
| image = 
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| coat = 
| coat_size =
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| country = {{flag|India}}
| territory =
| province = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai|Madurai]]
| metropolitan =
| archdeaconries =
| deaneries =
| subdivisions =
| headquarters =
| coordinates = 

| area_km2 = 915
| area_footnotes =
| population = 855,485
| population_as_of =
| catholics = 364,222
| catholics_percent = 42.57
| parishes = 100
| churches =
| congregations = 
| schools =
| members = 

| denomination =
| sui_iuris_church = 
| rite = [[Roman Rite]]
| established = 22 December 2014
| dissolved =
| cathedral = Holy Trinity Cathedral, Thirithuvapuram
| cocathedral =
| patron = 
| patron_title = 
| priests = 131
| language = Tamil
| calendar =
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| parent_church =
| pope = {{Incumbent pope}} 
| patriarch =
| major_archbishop =
| bishop = Albert George Alexander Anastas
| bishop_title = Bishop
| metro_archbishop = [[Antonysamy Savarimuthu]]
| coadjutor =
| suffragans = 
| auxiliary_bishops = 
| apostolic_admin =
| vicar_general =
| episcopal_vicar =
| archdeacons = 
| emeritus_bishops =


| map =
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| website = http://kuzhithuraidiocese.in
| footnotes =
|founded=}}

The '''Roman Catholic Diocese of Kuzhithura''' is a diocese located in [[Tamil Nadu]]. It was erected on 22 December 2014 by [[Pope Francis]] with territory taken from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar|Diocese of Kottar]]. He appointed Fr. Jerome Dhas Varuvel as the first bishop of the diocese.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/12/22/0981/02121.html |title=Rinunce e nomine |access-date=22 December 2014 |archive-date=22 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222185600/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2014/12/22/0981/02121.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2014/12/22/pope_creates_diocese_of_kuzhithurai_in_india/en-1115705 | title=Pope creates Diocese of Kuzhithurai in India | date=22 December 2014 | publisher=Vatican Radio | language=en | accessdate=11 July 2020 }}</ref>

For health reasons Bishop Jerome submitted his resignation to Pope Francis which was accepted on 6 June 2020. Simultaneously, Pope Francis appointed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Madurai, Antony Pappusamy, as [[Apostolic administration|Apostolic Administrator]] of the diocese of Kuzhithura.<ref>[http://ccbi.in/bishop-jerome-dhas-of-kuzhithurai-retired/ Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel retires]</ref>

Bifurcation of the diocese of Kottar had been a long-standing demand of the people of the region. 100 Parishes from Thiruthuvapuram and Mulagumoodu vicariates of Kottar diocese were put under the administrative control of Kuzhithurai diocese.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/kottar-diocese-bifurcated/article6717881.ece|title = Kottar Diocese bifurcated|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 23 December 2014}}</ref> Prior to this bifurcation, Kottar diocese had been one of the largest in India with over 500,000 Catholics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://donboscoindia.com/english/bis/default_ms.php?newsid=7357|title=Don Bosco India -}}</ref>

== Ordinaries ==
The following is a list of the bishops of Kuzhithurai and their terms of service:

* [[Jerome Dhas Varuvel]], [[S.D.B.]] (22 December 2014 – 6 June 2020)<ref>{{cite web |last=Cheney |first=David M. |title=Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel, S.D.B. |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdhasv.html |website=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=24 March 2026}}</ref>
** ''[[Antony Pappusamy]] (Apostolic Administrator; 6 June 2020 – 13 January 2024)''<ref>{{cite web |title=Rinunce e nomine, 06.06.2020|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2020/06/06/0323/00730.html |website=press.vatican.va |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=24 March 2026 |language=it}}</ref>
* [[Albert Anastas]] (13 January 2024 – present)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rinunce e nomine, 13.01.2024|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/01/13/0038/00075.html#Kuzhi |website=press.vatican.va |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=24 March 2026 |language=it}}</ref>

==Churches==
*ELAVUVILAI (1927) : ST.ALOYSIUS CHURCH, ELAVUVILAI.
*KARENKADU (1778) : Church of St. Aloysius Gonzaga
*MULAGUMOODU (1860) : Church of Our Lady of Nativity
*MANKUZHY (1906) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*MATHIRAVILAI (1906) : Church of Our Lady of Assumption
*PUTHENKADAI (1908) : Church of St. James
*MULLANGANAVILAI (1912) : Church of St. Antony
*MANALIKARAI (1913) : Church of St. Joseph
*MADATHATTUVLIAI (1918) : Church of St. Sebastian
*PUTHUKADAI (1920) : Church of Our Lady of Assumption
*THIRITHUVAPURAM (1920) : Church of the Most Holy Trinity
*VAVARAI (1924) : Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
*CHERUVALLOOR (1930) : Church of St. Michael Archangel
*KULASEKHARAM (1931) : [[St. Augustine's Church, Kulasekharam|Church of St. Augustine]]
*PALLIYADY (1931) : Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
*PACKIAPURAM (1936) : Church of St. Eusthachius
*SILUVAIPURAM (1936) : Church of St.John of the Cross
*CHEMPARUTHIVILAI (1939) : Church of St. Antony of Padua
*KANDANVILAI (1944) : Church of St. Therese of Child Jesus
*VENCODE (1949) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*KADAYAL (1952) : Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
*KALKURICHY (1954) : Church of St.Joseph
*KAPPUKAD (1955) : Church of St. Antony
*POOTTETTY (1956) : Church of St. Antony of Padua
*AMSI (1958) : Church of the Imm. Heart of Mary.
*PACODE (1959) : Church of the Sacred Heart.
*MADHAPURAM (1997) : [[Our Lady of Presentation Church, Mathapuram]].
*VALANOOR (1957) : Church of St.Joseph

==Mulagumoodu Vicariate Parishes ==
*KARENKADU (1778) : Church of St. Aloysius Gonzaga
*MULAGUMOODU (1860) : Church of Our Lady of Nativity
*MANKUZHY (1906) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*MATHIRAVILAI (1906) : Church of Our Lady of Assumption
*MULLANGANAVILAI (1912) : Church of St. Antony
*MANALIKARAI (1913) : Church of St. Joseph
*MADATHATTUVLIAI (1918) : Church of St. Sebastian
*PALLIYADY (1931) : Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
*CHEMPARUTHIVILAI (1939) : Church of St. Antony of Padua
*KANDANVILAI (1944) : [[St. Therese of Infant Jesus Church, Kandanvilai|Church of St. Therese of Child Jesus]]
*KALKURICHY (1954) : Church of St.Joseph
*MURASANCODE (1963) : Church of O.L. of Mt. Carmel
*KONAMKADU (1966) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*KAPPIARAI (1966) : Church of St. Catherine
*THUNDATHHUVILAI (1966) : Church of St. Antony
*ALANVILAI (1968) : Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
*VELLICODE (1968) : Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
*MYLACODE (1971) : Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
*THUCKALAY (1972) : Church of St. Elias
*KANJIRACODE (1975) : Church of Our Lady of Rosary
*PATTARIVILAI (1979) : Church of Our Lady of Snows
*KUTTAIKADU (1984) : Church of St.Jude Thadeus
*MULAVILAI (1984) : Church of Christ the King
*SAHAYA NAGAR (1986) : Church of O.L. of Perpetual Succour
*VELLIAVILAI (1996) : Church of Good Shepherd
*KOZHIPORVILAI (1997) : Church of St. Michael
*APPATTUVILAI (1999) : Church of St.Joseph
*SOLAPURAM (1999) : Church of St.Pius X
*MANALI (2000) : Church of St. Antony
*PANAVILAI (2000) : Church of the Holy Redeemer
*KOOTTAMAVU (2001) : Church of O. L. of Perpetual Succour
*THIRUVITHANCODE (2004) : Church of the Ascension of O.Lord
*AROCKIAPURAM (2006) : Church of St. Roch
*KALLUKOOTTAM (2008) : Church of Our Lady of Fatima
*MANALIKUZHIVILAI (2008) : Church of St. Michael the Archangel
*KONNAKUZHIVILAI (2008) : Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
*MUTTAICADU (29.11.2009) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*PILAVIALI (04.05.2010) : Church of St. George
*CHETTICHARVILAI (09.05.2010) : Church of Little Flower
*CHERUKOL karumputhottam (16.05.2010) : Church of St. Antony
*VALVACHAGOSTAM (24.05.2010) : Church of St. Antony
*KUZHIVILAI (2011) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*MUKKALAMPADU (2011) : Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
*APPATTUVILAI (22.06.2011) : [[St. Antony's Church, Chemmanvilai|Church of St. Antony]]
*KALLARAVILAI (26.06.2011) : Church of Our Lady of Fatima
*VATTAM (2012) : Church of St. Antony
*NULLIVILAI (26.05.2013) : Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
*VARTHANVILAI (01.11.2014) : Church of St. Antony
*IRUDAYAPURAM (03.11.2014) : Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
*CHIRANKUZHI : Church of St. Micheal
*MANCHADI : Church of St. Joseph

==Thiruthuvapuram Vicariate Parishes ==
*PUTHENKADAI (1908) : Church of St. James
*THIRITHUVAPURAM (1920) : Church of the Most Holy Trinity
*PUTHUKADAI (1920) : Church of Our Lady of Assumption
*VAVARAI (1924) : Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
*CHERUVALLOOR (1930) : Church of St. Michael Archangel
*KULASEKHARAM (1931) : Church of St. Augustine
*PACKIAPURAM (1936) : Church of ST. EUSTACHIUS
*SILUVAIPURAM (1936) : Church of St.John of the Cross
*VENCODE (1949) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*KADAYAL (1952) : Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
*KAPPUKAD (1955) : Church of St. Antony
*POOTTETTY (1956) : Church of St. Antony of Padua
*AMSI (1958) : Church of the Imm. Heart of Mary
*PACODE (1959) : Church of the Sacred Heart
*MELPURAM (1967) : Church of the Holy Guardian Angel
*PARAKUNNU (1968) : Church of the S.H. of Jesus
*MELPALAI (1971) : Church of Our Lady of Assumption
*ELAVUVILAI (1972) : Church of St. Aloysius
*KANJAMPURAM (1972) : Church of St. Therese of Child Jesus
*KALIAKKAVILAI (1973) : Church of St. Antony
*KOLVEL (1973) : Church of O.L.of Mt. Carmel
*LOURDUGIRI (1975) : Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
*[[Marthandam|MARTHANDAM]] (1979) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*NALLAYANPURAM (1979) : Church of Good Shepherd
*VIZHUNTHAYAMBALAM (1984) : Church of St. Antony
*THEMANOOR (1989) : Church of O.L. of Assumption
*ATTOOR (1991) : Church of St. Andrew
*CHOOZHAL (1991) : Church of St.Michael Archangel
*NAGACODE (1995) : Church of St. Antony
*MARUTHANCODE(1997) : Church of St. Antony
*PECHIPPARAI (1998) : Church of St. Joseph
*MUNCHIRAI (2000) : Church of Our Lady of Good Health
*KOTTOORKONAM (2001) : Church of Infant Jesus
*THUMBALI (2001) : Church of the Imm. Heart of Mary
*IRUTHAYAPURAM (2002) : Church of Christ the King
*ITHAYAPURAM (2005) : Church of the Sacred Heart
*MANCHAKONAM (2006) : Church of St. Therese of Child Jesus
*KAMPLAR (2008) : Church of St. Joseph
*PULLANI (2008) : Church of St. Antony
*ALANCHOLAI (14.05.2009) : Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
*MATHOOR (06.11.2009) : Church of St. Joseph
*AMBALAKADAI (09.11.2009) : Church of SS Peter & Paul
*EANCHACODE (12.11.2009) : Church of Our Lady of Per. Help
*PALAVILAI (14.05.2010) : Church of St. Antony
*YETTACODE (17.05.2010) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*FATIMAPURAM (11.02.2012) : Church of Our Lady of Fatima
*VANNIYOOR (07.03.2012) : Church of St. Joseph
*CHENTHARAI (20.08.2013) : Church of St. Francis Xavier
*THICKURICHY (04.11.2013) : Church of St. Gabriel
*VELLAYAMBALAM ( 31.10.2014) : Church of St. Antony
*KUZHITHURAI (05.11.2014) : Church of St.Michael the Archangel
*VALANOOR (1957) : Church of St.Joseph

==Schools==
*St. Francis Hr. Sec. School, Vavarai, S.T. Mangad 629 172
*St. Francis Hr. Sec. School, Vencode 629 171
*St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Mulagumoodu 629 167
*St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Thirithuvapuram, Kuzhithurai 629 163
*St. Mary’s Hr. Sec. School, Melpalai 629 152
*St. Joseph's Hr. Sec. School, Vizhunthayambalam, Thengapattanam 629 173
*Amala Convent Hr. Sec. School, Thuckalay 629 175
*St. Aloysius Hr. Sec. School, Velliavilai, Palapallam 629 159
*St. Antony's Hr. Sec. School, Enayam Puthenthurai, Keezhkulam 629 193
*St. Maria Goretti Hr. Sec. School, Manalikarai 629 164
*St. Aloysius High School, Elavuvilai 629 171
*St. Antony's High School, Kappukad 629 162
*St. Joseph's High School, Siluvaipuram, Kollencode 629 160
*Carmel Girls High School, Manalikarai 629 174
*Infant Jesus Girls High School, Mulagumoodu 629 167
*St. Antony's High School, Mullanganavilai 629 157
*St. [[John Vianney]]'s Girls High School, Palliady 629 169
*St. Lawrence Higher Secondary School. Madathattuvilai
*Sacret Heart High School, Pacode 629 168
*St.Antony High School, Chemparuthivilai 629 166
*St. Anthony's high school thundaththuvilai, karungal
*Nanjil [[Catholic school|Catholic School]], Vazhuthalampallam (CBSE)
*St. Joseph's Middle School, Valanoor, Chathencode 629 153

==See also==
*[[Catholic Church in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kuzh0.htm GCatholic.org]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dkuzh.html Catholic Hierarchy] [[Wikipedia:Sources|{{sup|{{small|[''self-published'']}}}}]]
* [http://kztdiocese.blogspot.in/ குழித்துறை மறைமாவட்டம்]
* [http://www.news.va/en/news/other-pontifical-acts-591 Vatican Official Communication] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224072633/http://www.news.va/en/news/other-pontifical-acts-591 |date=24 December 2014 }}

{{coord|8.3219|N|77.1948|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
{{Subject bar |portal1= Catholicism |portal2= India}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuzhithurai, Roman Catholic Diocese of}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in India]]
[[Category:Christianity in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 2014]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 21st century]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Diocese of Kuzhithurai| ]]

Diocese of Kuzhithurai - Revision history

Eldarmrk at 03:22, 20 April 2026