Palayamkottai (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Bishop
Arochiasamy Jude Gerald Paulraj, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 17 May 1973
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madurai
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 6,103 (2,357 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.palayamkottaidiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Catholic Bishop's House, 1331 W Pope John Paul Nagar, KTC Nagar, Maharaja Nagar Post, Palayankottai-627011, Tirunelvely Dt., Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (0462)252.21.14; 252.20.42

Past and Present Ordinaries

Savarinathen Iruthayaraj † (17 May 1973 Appointed - 15 Jul 1999 Resigned)
Arochiasamy Jude Gerald Paulraj (23 Oct 2000 Appointed - 29 Jun 2018 Retired)
Antonysamy Savarimuthu (20 Nov 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
17 May 1973	Erected	Archdiocese of Madurai (Southern Part)	Diocese of Palayamkottai (erected)

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

1980 81,640 2,112,000 3.9% 22 22 44 1,855 120 219 21 ap1981

1990 100,664 2,374,000 4.2% 35 28 63 1,597 1 117 254 26 ap1991

1999 104,157 2,373,295 4.4% 41 33 74 1,407 102 289 32 ap2000

2000 107,120 2,373,295 4.5% 44 34 78 1,373 103 314 33 ap2001

2001 109,275 2,373,295 4.6% 43 29 72 1,517 100 316 33 ap2002

2002 110,750 2,373,299 4.7% 45 29 74 1,496 109 316 34 ap2003

2003 121,825 2,610,629 4.7% 47 31 78 1,561 111 352 35 ap2004

2004 123,789 2,652,273 4.7% 48 30 78 1,587 110 346 38 ap2005

2013 132,435 3,046,354 4.3% 62 59 121 1,094 184 392 48 ap2014

2016 138,945 3,233,466 4.3% 73 56 129 1,077 222 394 51 ap2017

2019 143,455 3,338,500 4.3% 82 54 136 1,054 208 375 56 ap2020

2021 135,257 3,436,450 3.9% 86 57 143 945 162 375 56 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1980	81,640	2,112,000	3.9%	22	22	44	1,855		120	219	21	ap1981
1990	100,664	2,374,000	4.2%	35	28	63	1,597	1	117	254	26	ap1991
1999	104,157	2,373,295	4.4%	41	33	74	1,407		102	289	32	ap2000
2000	107,120	2,373,295	4.5%	44	34	78	1,373		103	314	33	ap2001
2001	109,275	2,373,295	4.6%	43	29	72	1,517		100	316	33	ap2002
2002	110,750	2,373,299	4.7%	45	29	74	1,496		109	316	34	ap2003
2003	121,825	2,610,629	4.7%	47	31	78	1,561		111	352	35	ap2004
2004	123,789	2,652,273	4.7%	48	30	78	1,587		110	346	38	ap2005
2013	132,435	3,046,354	4.3%	62	59	121	1,094		184	392	48	ap2014
2016	138,945	3,233,466	4.3%	73	56	129	1,077		222	394	51	ap2017
2019	143,455	3,338,500	4.3%	82	54	136	1,054		208	375	56	ap2020
2021	135,257	3,436,450	3.9%	86	57	143	945		162	375	56	ap2022