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Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai

Coordinates: 9°50′48″N 78°28′45″E / 9.8468°N 78.4792°E / 9.8468; 78.4792
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Diocese of Sivagangai

Dioecesis Sivagangaiensis

சிவகங்கை மறைமாவட்டம்
Bishopric
Alangara Annai Cathedral, Sivagangai
Location
CountryIndia
TerritoryRamanathapuram and Sivagangai
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Madurai
Coordinates9°50′48″N 78°28′45″E / 9.8468°N 78.4792°E / 9.8468; 78.4792
Statistics
Area8,353 km2 (3,225 sq mi)[1]
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2021)
3,123,623
182,150 (5.8%)
Parishes82
Schools160
Information
Formation3 July 1987 (1987-07-03)
RiteLatin Rite
CathedralAlangara Annai Cathedral
Co-cathedralBasilica of St. John de Britto
SaintJohn de Brito
Secular priests177
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopThe Most Reverend Lourdu Anandam
Metropolitan ArchbishopAnthony Pappusamy
Bishops emeritus

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

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Alangara Annai Cathedral

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. As of 2021, the total population of the area is 2,502,340 of which the Catholic population is 182,150 (5.8%) 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

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  • 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.[2]
  • Servant of God Fr. Louis Marie Leveil, SJ[3]
  • Servant of God Fr. Antonio Pietro Criminali[4][5]

Bishops

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Lourdu Anandam
Bishop of Sivagangai
The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam, Bishop of Sivagangai
MetropolisArchdiocese of Madurai
DioceseDiocese of Sivagangai
InstalledSeptember 21, 2023 (2023-09-21)
PredecessorJebalamai Susaimanickam
Orders
OrdinationApril 6, 1986 (1986-04-06)
ConsecrationSeptember 21, 2023 (2023-09-21)
Personal details
Born (1958-08-15) August 15, 1958 (age 66)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materUniversity of Freiburg

First bishop was Edward Francis who served from 3 Jul 1987 until his retirement on 1 Sep 2005. He was succeeded by Rev Dr Jebamalai Susaimanickam, who served from 1 Sep 2005 until 25 Sep 2020 when he retired. The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam is the third and current Bishop, having begun is term in 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Diocese of Sivagangai, India". GCatholic. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Oriyur - John de britto shrine - Arulanandar Church Oriyur". Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  4. ^ 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).
  5. ^ "Other Pre-19th Cent. Causes". newsaints.faithweb.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
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