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| History |
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Before the
erection of the diocese of Palayamkottai, this area was evangelized by the
Society of Jesus of Madurai Jesuit Province. The history of Christianity
begins from the time of St. Francis Xavier, in 1542. The old Madurai Mission
was taking care of the spiritual needs of the Catholics. Some of the
renowned Jesuit missionaries like St. John de Britto (1686-1688) (Martyred
in Oriyur now in the diocese of Sivagangai) Fr Constantine Beschi (1714)
have spent part of their missionary lives in this area and helped the
Christians to strengthen their faith. From the beginning of the 20th
Century, Diocesan priests from the Diocese of Trichirapalli were caring for
the spiritual needs of the Catholics. |
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After the
erection of the Archdiocese of Madurai, this part came under the Archdiocese of Madurai. At the time of
the erection of the Diocese of Palayamkottai there were only six Jesuit
priests working in the parishes. Gradually they were replaced by the
diocesan priests. At present there are only one Jesuit priest in the parish
and 16 Jesuit priests in St. Xavier's Arts and B.Ed. College, Palayamkottai.
Madurai Jesuit Province has contributed much to Christianity in this
diocese. The Diocese of Palayamkottai is much indebted to it. |
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His
Holiness Pope Paul VI, by the Bull "Romani Pontifices" dated 17th May 1973,
decreed the erection of the Diocese of Palayamkottai. Palayamkottai, one of
the vicariates of the Archdiocese of Madurai, became the separate 13th
diocese in Tamilnadu Region, India. It remains as one of the suffragans of
the Archdiocese of Madurai. His Grace P. Justin Diraviam, the then
Archbishop of Madurai, in virtue of powers delegated to him, gave effect to
the terms of the Bull on 9th September 1973. The nominated first Bishop of
Palayamkottai, Rev. Msgr. S. Iruthayaraj took canonical possession of the
diocese on 9th September 1973, and was consecrated as the first Bishop of
Palayamkottai on 12th September 1973 at Palayamkottai by Archbishop P.
Justin Diraviam of Madurai Archdiocese. |
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Bishop S.
Iruthayaraj pastored the diocese of Palayamkottai for 26 years and
contributed to its growth in the various fields of spiritual, pastoral,
educational, social, developmental ecumenical activities etc. He voluntarily
retired from his Episcopal ministry of the diocese on July, 1999. The
college of consultors elected Fr. Susai Marian, as administrator of the
diocese and he was approved by the Holy See to run the diocese till the new
bishop was to be appointed. On 9 November, 2000 Rome announced Fr. Jude
Paulraj, who was then Rector of Christ Hall Major Seminary, Madurai the
second Bishop of Palayamkottai. He was consecrated by Archbishop Arockiasamy
of Madurai at Palayamkottai on 8th December 2000, which was his priestly
ordination day too. By his dedication and commitment as his motto goes, "In
Your Name to Serve & Sacrifice" he is shepherding the diocese as a good
pastor towards its fullness of life and growth. |
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The diocese
of Palayamkottai has completed 33 years after its erection on 11th September
1973. The following pages give some important and useful information about
the activities and growth of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of
Palayamkottai. |
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(i) The
Diocese of Palayamkottai comprised, the then civil taluks of Tirunelveli,
Tenkasi, Shencottai, Sankarankovil, excluding two sub-taluks of Vilathikulam
and Ottapidaram. Since 1982, when the civil district of Tirunelveli was
bifurcated into Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, Kovilpatti became a taluk head quarters and the then area which
was under Kovilpatti Taluk came under Thoothukudi District. At present the
Diocese of Palayamkottai comprises the following Taluks: |
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Tirunelveli
District
1. Tirunelveli
2. Palayamkottai
3. Ambasamudram
4. Tenkasi
5. Shencottai
6. Sankarankovil
7. Sivagiri
8. Cheranmahadevi
9.
Veerakeralam Pudur
10.
Alangulam
Thoothukudi District
Kovilpatti
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| (ii) The
total area of the Diocese is 6102.7 sq.km. |
| (iii)
Language spoken are Tamil, English, Telugu & Malayalam |
| (iv) The
Total Population in the Diocese 26,52,273. |
| (v) Temporary
migrants: - Srilankan Tamils |
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| Information |
Name of the Diocese
: Palayamkottai
Date of its Erection : 17/05/1973
Name of the First Bishop : Most Rev. S. Iruthayaraj D. D., D.C.L
Name of the present Bishop : Most Rev. A. Jude Paulraj D.D.
Election as Bishop of Palayamkottai: 23/10/2000
Date of Consecration : 08/12/2000
Motto : In Your Name to Serve and to Sacrifice
Patron of the Diocese : St. Francis Xavier
Area : 6102 sq. km
Population : 26, 52, 273
Catholics : 1, 23, 789
Languages Spoken : Tamil, English, Malayalam, Telugu
Number of Parishes : 40
Total Number of Priests : 104
Diocesan Priests : 69
Religious Priests : 35 (12 in Parishes, 23 in Institutions)
Number of Vicariates : 3
Diocesan Administrative Bodies : Diocesan College of Consultors - 8 Members
The Council of Priests - 17 Members
Number of Religious Brothers : 91 (Belonging to 4 Congregations)
Number of Religious Sisters : 337 (Belonging to 25 Congregations)
Number of Major Seminarians : 22
Number of Minor Seminarians : 08
Number of College Students : 28
Number of Trained Catechists : 12
Paid Catechists : 340
Voluntary Catechists : 535 |
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| Educational
Institutions |
| Formal
Institutions |
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Diocese |
Religious |
Total
No. |
Students |
Staff |
| Kinder garden School |
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24 |
2,865 |
112 |
| Primary Schools |
65 |
16 |
81 |
20,703 |
360 |
| Middle Schools |
23 |
05 |
28 |
21,320 |
293 |
| High Schools |
10 |
09 |
19 |
18,140 |
115 |
| Higher Secondary School |
04 |
11 |
15 |
10,135 |
427 |
| Teacher Training Institute |
0 |
01 |
01 |
40 |
12 |
| Arts College |
0 |
01 |
01 |
1,690 |
173 |
| College of Education |
0 |
02 |
02 |
298 |
39 |
| Technical Training Centre |
01 |
01 |
01 |
185 |
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| College
of Education (Proposed) |
01 |
0 |
01 |
100 |
21 |
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| Non-Formal
Institutions |
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No. |
Beneficiaries |
| Rehabilitation of Child Labourers |
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Men Associations |
534 |
10,473 |
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Women Associations |
525 |
15,331 |
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Children's Clubs |
200 |
7,000 |
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Balwadies |
84 |
3,213 |
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Tuition Centers |
52 |
1,940 |
| Tailoring Centers in Rural Areas |
10 |
250 |
| Child labour special schools |
3 |
150 |
| Mahalir Thittam |
148 |
2768 |
| Community College |
1 |
178 |
| Rehabilitation of Street Children |
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Home Placement |
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167 |
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School
Placement |
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21 |
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Job Placement |
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20 |
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Economic Programmes |
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38 |
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Vocational Training |
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71 |
Vidiyal Counselling Centre for unwed
mothers and Commercial Sex Workers |
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Unwed mothers Rehabilitated |
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25 |
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Rehabilitated Commercial Sex Workers |
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35 |
| Adoption Centre for Abandoned Babies |
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No. of Babies received under cradle baby scheme |
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22 |
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No. of thrown away babies found in the bush |
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20 |
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| Social |
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Diocese |
Religious |
Total
No. |
Beneficiaries |
| Rehabilitation Centre |
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for the Mentally Retarded |
1 |
0 |
1 |
130 |
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for the Physically Handicapped |
0 |
1 |
1 |
35 |
| Home for the Aged |
2 |
0 |
2 |
43 |
| Orphanage |
4 |
14 |
18 |
2220 |
| Dispensary |
26 |
0 |
26 |
110682 |
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| Commissions |
1. Christian life, 2. Evangelization, 3. Anbiam (BCC), 4. Laity
5. Family, 6. Women, 7. Youth , 8. Labour, 9.Vocation, 10. SC/ST/BC
11. Education, 12. Dialogue, 13. Ecumenism, 14. Social Communications,
15. Justice, Peace and Development, 16. Health care. |
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| Structures
of Renewal and Social Changes |
| Jubilee Pastoral Centre, Tirunelveli Social Service Society, Nesam Counseling Centre, Uthayam Education Trust |
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| Bishop's House Address: |
Catholic Bishop's House , Post Box No: 108 , Palayamkottai - 627002 , Tirunelveli Dist. Tamilnadu , INDIA . Phone Nos: 0462 - 2522114 / 2522818 Fax No: 0462 - 2522081
E-mail : rcdiopalayamkottai @ yahoo. com
WEBSITE: www.palayamkottaidiocese.org |
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