Diocese of Palayamkottai

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Bishop(s) Jude Gerald Paulraj, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 17 May 1973 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madurai Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: India Square Kilometers: 6,102 (2,356 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.palayamkottaidiocese.org/ Mailing Address: P.O. Box 108, Palayankottai-627002, Tirunelvely Dt., Tamil Nadu, India Telephone: (0462)57.66.77 Fax: 58.00.67

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Savarinathen Iruthayaraj † (17 May 1973 Appointed - 15 Jul 1999 Resigned)
• Jude Gerald Paulraj (23 Oct 2000 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

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

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Statistics

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

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Savarinathen Iruthayaraj † (Bishop: 17 May 1973 to 15 Jul 1999)
• Jude Gerald Paulraj (Bishop: 23 Oct 2000 - )