Salem (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Arulselvam Rayappan, Bishop
Singaroyan Sebastianappan, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 26 May 1930
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 9,624 (3,717 Square Miles)
Description: Districts of Salem and Namakkal
Official Web Site: https://salemdiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.B. 703, 2 Court Road, Maravanery, Salem-636007, Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (0427)241.56.41
Fax: 241.29.37

Past and Present Ordinaries

Henri-Aimé-Anatole Prunier, M.E.P. † (26 May 1930 Appointed - 20 Nov 1947 Resigned)
Venmani S. Selvanather † (3 Mar 1949 Appointed - 17 Mar 1973 Appointed, Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore)
Michael Bosco Duraisamy † (28 Feb 1974 Appointed - 9 Jun 1999 Died)
Singaroyan Sebastianappan (5 Jul 2000 Appointed - 9 Mar 2020 Resigned)
Arulselvam Rayappan (31 May 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
26 May 1930	Erected	Diocese of Kumbakonam Diocese of Mysore Archdiocese of Pondicherry	Diocese of Salem (erected) (District of Salem)
10 April 1947	Territory Added	Diocese of Mysore (Mettur and Saveriarpalayam)	Diocese of Salem
24 January 1997	Territory Lost	Diocese of Salem (Dharmapuri)	Diocese of Dharmapuri (erected)

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

1950 40,094 2,800,000 1.4% 30 23 53 756 8 150 30 ap1951

1970 60,455 3,457,865 1.7% 61 10 71 851 41 361 38 ap1971

1980 77,158 4,843,615 1.6% 78 15 93 829 1 123 523 49 ap1981

1990 102,441 8,408,000 1.2% 89 15 104 985 1 104 545 54 ap1991

1999 78,164 4,534,840 1.7% 72 95 167 468 1 209 391 38 ap2000

2000 80,500 4,670,844 1.7% 66 93 159 506 1 200 403 38 ap2001

2001 81,010 4,870,920 1.7% 66 18 84 964 1 110 405 38 ap2002

2002 81,920 4,919,629 1.7% 60 20 80 1,024 1 117 408 39 ap2003

2003 83,140 4,990,255 1.7% 62 20 82 1,013 1 114 421 39 ap2004

2004 84,072 5,040,157 1.7% 65 23 88 955 1 123 458 39 ap2005

2010 88,576 5,687,860 1.6% 76 30 106 835 1 118 501 49 ap2011

2014 90,806 5,349,459 1.7% 79 55 134 677 1 250 554 57 ap2015

2017 84,721 5,513,709 1.5% 73 53 126 672 1 167 554 61 ap2018

2020 84,269 5,208,657 1.6% 72 50 122 690 1 133 560 60 ap2021

2022 86,938 5,356,000 1.6% 77 59 136 639 1 165 534 60 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	40,094	2,800,000	1.4%	30	23	53	756		8	150	30	ap1951
1970	60,455	3,457,865	1.7%	61	10	71	851		41	361	38	ap1971
1980	77,158	4,843,615	1.6%	78	15	93	829	1	123	523	49	ap1981
1990	102,441	8,408,000	1.2%	89	15	104	985	1	104	545	54	ap1991
1999	78,164	4,534,840	1.7%	72	95	167	468	1	209	391	38	ap2000
2000	80,500	4,670,844	1.7%	66	93	159	506	1	200	403	38	ap2001
2001	81,010	4,870,920	1.7%	66	18	84	964	1	110	405	38	ap2002
2002	81,920	4,919,629	1.7%	60	20	80	1,024	1	117	408	39	ap2003
2003	83,140	4,990,255	1.7%	62	20	82	1,013	1	114	421	39	ap2004
2004	84,072	5,040,157	1.7%	65	23	88	955	1	123	458	39	ap2005
2010	88,576	5,687,860	1.6%	76	30	106	835	1	118	501	49	ap2011
2014	90,806	5,349,459	1.7%	79	55	134	677	1	250	554	57	ap2015
2017	84,721	5,513,709	1.5%	73	53	126	672	1	167	554	61	ap2018
2020	84,269	5,208,657	1.6%	72	50	122	690	1	133	560	60	ap2021
2022	86,938	5,356,000	1.6%	77	59	136	639	1	165	534	60	ap2023