Vijayapuram (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sebastian Thekethecheril, Bishop
Justin Alexander Madathiparambil, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 July 1930
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Verapoly
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 9,000 (3,476 Square Miles)
Description: Districts of Kottayam, Idukki, and portions of the Districts of Alleppey, Pathanamthitta, and Ernakulam
Official Web Site: https://www.vijayapuramdiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 82, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India
Telephone: (0481)2563.747
Fax: 2565.863

Past and Present Ordinaries

Juan Vicente Araña y Idígoras, O.C.D. † (24 Mar 1931 Appointed - 14 Jun 1946 Resigned)
Marcellino Aramburu y Arandía, O.C.D. † (13 May 1948 Appointed - 1949 Died)
John Ambrose Abasolo y Lecue, O.C.D. † (25 Dec 1949 Appointed - 16 Jan 1971 Resigned)
Cornelius Elanjikal † (16 Jan 1971 Appointed - 26 Jan 1987 Appointed, Archbishop of Verapoly)
Peter Thuruthikonam † (5 May 1988 Appointed - 8 May 2006 Retired)
Sebastian Thekethecheril (8 May 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 July 1930	Erected	Archdiocese of Verapoly (Asamannur, Perumbavoor, Vengoor, Rayamangalam, and Cheranallur (all in Kunnatnad), Muvattupuzha, Todupuzha, Devicolam, Peermade, Minachil, Kottayam, and Changanacherry along with parts of Tiruvalla, Pathanamtitta, and Amabalapulai)	Diocese of Vijayapuram (erected)
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Vijayapuram (from Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))

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

1950 54,703 1,803,754 3.0% 25 15 40 1,367 16 56 43 ap1951

1970 65,991 2,680,000 2.5% 70 28 98 673 38 160 114 ap1971

1980 71,454 4,062,030 1.8% 80 34 114 626 48 253 65 ap1981

1990 87,208 4,679,044 1.9% 81 31 112 778 1 49 378 66 ap1991

1999 82,986 5,103,576 1.6% 81 32 113 734 1 46 450 69 ap2000

2000 71,968 4,084,144 1.8% 83 33 116 620 1 98 423 70 ap2001

2001 77,185 4,129,145 1.9% 93 39 132 584 3 115 429 71 ap2002

2002 81,303 4,631,506 1.8% 93 40 133 611 2 128 451 72 ap2003

2003 81,303 3,581,506 2.3% 93 40 133 611 3 110 425 72 ap2004

2004 82,930 3,584,506 2.3% 94 33 127 652 3 107 470 74 ap2005

2010 79,021 3,864,879 2.0% 106 57 163 484 2 150 495 80 ap2011

2014 86,768 3,887,426 2.2% 113 71 184 471 2 149 456 83 ap2015

2017 91,861 4,226,601 2.2% 108 65 173 530 2 130 476 84 ap2018

2020 92,739 5,325,782 1.7% 108 67 175 529 107 435 84 ap2021

2022 93,600 5,399,217 1.7% 105 79 184 508 116 446 84 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	54,703	1,803,754	3.0%	25	15	40	1,367		16	56	43	ap1951
1970	65,991	2,680,000	2.5%	70	28	98	673		38	160	114	ap1971
1980	71,454	4,062,030	1.8%	80	34	114	626		48	253	65	ap1981
1990	87,208	4,679,044	1.9%	81	31	112	778	1	49	378	66	ap1991
1999	82,986	5,103,576	1.6%	81	32	113	734	1	46	450	69	ap2000
2000	71,968	4,084,144	1.8%	83	33	116	620	1	98	423	70	ap2001
2001	77,185	4,129,145	1.9%	93	39	132	584	3	115	429	71	ap2002
2002	81,303	4,631,506	1.8%	93	40	133	611	2	128	451	72	ap2003
2003	81,303	3,581,506	2.3%	93	40	133	611	3	110	425	72	ap2004
2004	82,930	3,584,506	2.3%	94	33	127	652	3	107	470	74	ap2005
2010	79,021	3,864,879	2.0%	106	57	163	484	2	150	495	80	ap2011
2014	86,768	3,887,426	2.2%	113	71	184	471	2	149	456	83	ap2015
2017	91,861	4,226,601	2.2%	108	65	173	530	2	130	476	84	ap2018
2020	92,739	5,325,782	1.7%	108	67	175	529		107	435	84	ap2021
2022	93,600	5,399,217	1.7%	105	79	184	508		116	446	84	ap2023