Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai

Roman Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India

9°50′48″N 78°28′45″E / 9.8468°N 78.4792°E / 9.8468; 78.4792StatisticsArea8,353 km² (3,225 sq mi)Population
- Total
- Catholics(as of 2004)
2,479,560
225,548 (9.1%)InformationRiteLatin RiteEstablished3 July 1987CathedralAlangara Annai Cathedral in SivagangaPatron saintSt John de BritoCurrent leadershipPopeFrancisBishopMost Rev. Lourdu AnandamMetropolitan ArchbishopAnthony PappusamyBishops emeritus1. Rev Dr Edward Francis (1987-2005) 2. Rev Dr Jebamalai Susaimanickam (1 April 2005-25 September 2020)Websitehttps://rcdioceseofsivagangai.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai is located at the southeast corner of Bay of Bengal, 45 km east of Madurai city, in Tamil Nadu, India.

History

It was established on July 25, 1987, bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Madurai. The Most Rev. S. Edward Francis was the First Bishop of the new Diocese and Bp. Jebamalai Susaimanickam succeeded him as the second bishop. On September 21st, 2023, The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam was announced as the third bishop of the diocese, and his episcopal consecration took place on November 26th, 2023.

The territory of the diocese includes two civil districts Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai. The total population of the area is 2,502,340 of which the Catholic population is 177,868 (8.1%) and still growing. 20 years after the diocese has 62 parish centers, 734 mission stations about 107 diocesan clergy, 19 religious order priests and over 350 religious men and women serving at various religious and educational institutions in the diocesan region.

Saints and causes for canonisation

St. John de Britto (1693), the patron saint of the diocese, entered the region as a Jesuit missionary from Europe and became the bedrock of faith for thousands of people. He was beheaded at Oriyur on Feb 4, 1693 by a regional king for preaching about Jesus Christ and establishing churches.^[1]
Servant of God Fr. Louis Marie Leveil, SJ^[2]
Servant of God Fr. Antonio Pietro Criminali^[3]^[4]

Bishops

The Most Rev. Lourdu Anandam
Installed	26 November 2023

First bishop was Edward Francis.

Second bishop was Rev Dr Jebamalai Susaimanickam.

The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam is the third and current Bishop.

References

^ "Oriyur - John de britto shrine - Arulanandar Church Oriyur". Retrieved 26 February 2020.
^ "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
^ Papaluca, SJ, Michele (January 2017). «Pacificar y poner en concordia». Un modello di riconciliazione nella primitiva Compagnia di Gesù (1539-1575) (PDF) (Licenciatura en Teología Espiritual thesis).
^ "Other Pre-19th Cent. Causes". newsaints.faithweb.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.