Kumbakonam (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jeevanandam Amalanathan, Bishop
Antonisamy Francis, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 1 September 1899
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 7,823 (3,021 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseofkumbakonam.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 3, Kamaraj Street, Kumbakonam-612001, Thanjavur Dt., Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (0435)2421.525

Past and Present Ordinaries

Hugues-Madelain Bottero, M.E.P. † (5 Sep 1899 Appointed - 21 May 1913 Died)
Auguste-Marie-Augustin Chapuis, M.E.P. † (21 May 1913 Succeeded - 17 Dec 1928 Resigned)
Peter Francis Rayappa † (24 Feb 1931 Appointed - 20 Sep 1954 Resigned)
Daniel Paul Arulswamy † (5 May 1955 Appointed - 16 Aug 1988 Resigned)
Peter Remigius (10 Nov 1989 Appointed - 30 Jun 2007 Appointed, Bishop of Kottar)
Antonisamy Francis (31 May 2008 Appointed - 13 Jan 2024 Retired)
Jeevanandam Amalanathan (13 Jan 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
1 September 1899	Erected	Archdiocese of Pondicherry	Diocese of Kumbakonam (erected)
3 July 1929	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kumbakonam (Mayavaram, Shiyaly, and part of Nannuam and Ghidambaram (Thanjavur)) Archdiocese of Madras (Part of city of Madras) Diocese of Trichinopoly (Alangudi and Thirumayam)	Diocese of São Tomé of Meliapore
26 May 1930	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kumbakonam Diocese of Mysore Archdiocese of Pondicherry	Diocese of Salem (erected) (District of Salem)

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

1950 105,561 1,593,198 6.6% 72 8 80 1,319 20 176 48 ap1951

1970 140,856 3,000,000 4.7% 83 9 92 1,531 13 382 48 ap1971

1980 159,712 3,475,000 4.6% 91 9 100 1,597 23 504 64 ap1981

1990 187,340 3,859,680 4.9% 93 22 115 1,629 35 556 64 ap1991

1999 220,772 1,979,287 11.2% 105 31 136 1,623 71 468 74 ap2000

2000 198,048 2,134,746 9.3% 111 44 155 1,277 69 453 75 ap2001

2001 198,835 2,110,050 9.4% 108 35 143 1,390 64 661 76 ap2002

2002 205,115 2,278,478 9.0% 109 44 153 1,340 70 478 76 ap2003

2003 207,235 2,448,200 8.5% 109 44 153 1,354 87 542 78 ap2004

2004 195,582 2,605,732 7.5% 114 44 158 1,237 87 545 80 ap2005

2013 217,856 5,521,856 3.9% 151 58 209 1,042 133 543 89 ap2014

2016 227,848 5,366,256 4.2% 162 80 242 941 164 612 92 ap2017

2019 240,118 5,600,110 4.3% 174 92 266 902 232 670 97 ap2020

2021 262,426 5,985,100 4.4% 174 94 268 979 226 647 93 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	105,561	1,593,198	6.6%	72	8	80	1,319	20	176	48	ap1951
1970	140,856	3,000,000	4.7%	83	9	92	1,531	13	382	48	ap1971
1980	159,712	3,475,000	4.6%	91	9	100	1,597	23	504	64	ap1981
1990	187,340	3,859,680	4.9%	93	22	115	1,629	35	556	64	ap1991
1999	220,772	1,979,287	11.2%	105	31	136	1,623	71	468	74	ap2000
2000	198,048	2,134,746	9.3%	111	44	155	1,277	69	453	75	ap2001
2001	198,835	2,110,050	9.4%	108	35	143	1,390	64	661	76	ap2002
2002	205,115	2,278,478	9.0%	109	44	153	1,340	70	478	76	ap2003
2003	207,235	2,448,200	8.5%	109	44	153	1,354	87	542	78	ap2004
2004	195,582	2,605,732	7.5%	114	44	158	1,237	87	545	80	ap2005
2013	217,856	5,521,856	3.9%	151	58	209	1,042	133	543	89	ap2014
2016	227,848	5,366,256	4.2%	162	80	242	941	164	612	92	ap2017
2019	240,118	5,600,110	4.3%	174	92	266	902	232	670	97	ap2020
2021	262,426	5,985,100	4.4%	174	94	268	979	226	647	93	ap2022