Kannur (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Alex Joseph Vadakumthala, Bishop
Dennis Kuruppassery, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 5 November 1998
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Calicut
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 4,988 (1,926 Square Miles)
Description: Part of civil district of Kannur (north of Mahe river, excluding Pallur, Chelakara, Panthakal, and Chenkallai all in Mahe) and part of Kasaragod south of Chandragiri river
Official Web Site: https://kannurdiocese.com
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Chovva P.O., Kannur-670006, Kerala, India
Telephone: (0497)272.9977; 272.9988

Past and Present Ordinaries

Varghese Chakkalakal (5 Nov 1998 Appointed - 15 May 2012 Appointed, Bishop of Calicut)
Alex Joseph Vadakumthala (1 Feb 2014 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
5 November 1998	Erected	Diocese of Calicut (Kannur and Kasaragode)	Diocese of Kannur (erected)
12 April 2025	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Kannur (from Verapoly)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1999 37,000 3,315,448 1.1% 25 40 65 569 59 466 46 ap2000

2000 27,878 3,315,448 .8% 25 40 65 428 64 480 48 ap2001

2001 31,170 3,315,448 .9% 24 44 68 458 68 486 48 ap2002

2002 31,170 3,315,448 .9% 25 45 70 445 63 489 48 ap2003

2003 32,040 3,315,448 1.0% 27 57 84 381 81 637 54 ap2004

2004 32,540 3,315,448 1.0% 26 57 83 392 81 637 54 ap2005

2006 37,601 2,554,000 1.5% 31 60 91 413 135 615 58 ap2007

2011 48,899 2,734,000 1.8% 44 72 116 421 118 581 59 ap2012

2013 51,413 7,895,223 .7% 54 78 132 389 98 600 59 ap2014

2016 54,652 2,874,064 1.9% 54 72 126 433 107 544 57 ap2017

2019 55,530 2,997,423 1.9% 61 70 131 423 110 549 62 ap2020

2021 55,804 3,254,577 1.7% 56 75 131 425 1 123 579 62 ap2022

2023 55,916 3,255,214 1.7% 59 75 134 417 1 122 612 62 ap2024

2025 55,759 3,286,871 1.7% 69 88 157 355 6 8 603 63 bul:12Apr2025

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1999	37,000	3,315,448	1.1%	25	40	65	569		59	466	46	ap2000
2000	27,878	3,315,448	.8%	25	40	65	428		64	480	48	ap2001
2001	31,170	3,315,448	.9%	24	44	68	458		68	486	48	ap2002
2002	31,170	3,315,448	.9%	25	45	70	445		63	489	48	ap2003
2003	32,040	3,315,448	1.0%	27	57	84	381		81	637	54	ap2004
2004	32,540	3,315,448	1.0%	26	57	83	392		81	637	54	ap2005
2006	37,601	2,554,000	1.5%	31	60	91	413		135	615	58	ap2007
2011	48,899	2,734,000	1.8%	44	72	116	421		118	581	59	ap2012
2013	51,413	7,895,223	.7%	54	78	132	389		98	600	59	ap2014
2016	54,652	2,874,064	1.9%	54	72	126	433		107	544	57	ap2017
2019	55,530	2,997,423	1.9%	61	70	131	423		110	549	62	ap2020
2021	55,804	3,254,577	1.7%	56	75	131	425	1	123	579	62	ap2022
2023	55,916	3,255,214	1.7%	59	75	134	417	1	122	612	62	ap2024
2025	55,759	3,286,871	1.7%	69	88	157	355	6	8	603	63	bul:12Apr2025