Tuticorin (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Stephen Antony Pillai, Bishop
Yvon Ambroise, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 12 June 1923
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madurai
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 6,440 (2,487 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://tuticorindiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 82 G.C. Road, Tuticorin-628001, Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (0461)2320.035
Fax: 2327.710

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francis Tiburtius Roche, S.J. † (12 Jun 1923 Appointed - 26 Jun 1953 Resigned)
Thomas Fernando † (26 Jun 1953 Succeeded - 23 Nov 1970 Appointed, Bishop of Tiruchirapalli)
Ambrose Mathalaimuthu † (30 Aug 1971 Appointed - 6 Dec 1979 Appointed, Bishop of Coimbatore)
Siluvaimathu Teresanathan Amalnather † (29 Nov 1980 Appointed - 8 Dec 1999 Resigned)
Peter Fernando † (8 Dec 1999 Succeeded - 22 Mar 2003 Appointed, Archbishop of Madurai)
Yvon Ambroise (1 Apr 2005 Appointed - 17 Jan 2019 Retired)
Stephen Antony Pillai (17 Jan 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
12 June 1923	Erected	Diocese of Trichinopoly (Most of Tuticorin, about half of Nellai, and a portion of Kanyakumari)	Diocese of Tuticorin (erected)
14 July 1927	Territory Added	Diocese of Trichinopoly (Boundaries adjusted)	Diocese of Tuticorin (Boundaries adjusted)
3 July 1929	Territory Added	Diocese of São Tomé of Meliapore (Gur dalle, M anapal, Punnakail, Nossa Senhora des Dores de Tuticorin, and Vaipar)	Diocese of Tuticorin
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Tuticorin (from Bombay)

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

1950 110,000 1,500,000 7.3% 72 4 76 1,447 16 240 45 ap1951

1969 152,240 1,898,068 8.0% 76 8 84 1,812 8 523 52 ap1971

1980 198,800 1,826,000 10.9% 95 8 103 1,930 59 694 48 ap1981

1990 271,362 1,866,362 14.5% 134 9 143 1,897 54 675 73 ap1991

1999 314,350 2,592,000 12.1% 134 11 145 2,167 65 690 78 ap2000

2000 317,370 2,598,200 12.2% 138 10 148 2,144 62 696 82 ap2001

2001 325,170 2,618,410 12.4% 145 15 160 2,032 67 696 87 ap2002

2002 330,200 2,625,400 12.6% 145 13 158 2,089 72 698 90 ap2003

2003 340,000 2,715,000 12.5% 154 17 171 1,988 67 696 95 ap2004

2004 348,000 2,765,000 12.6% 146 18 164 2,121 68 605 103 ap2005

2010 421,820 2,590,000 16.3% 168 30 198 2,130 59 702 106 ap2011

2014 435,000 2,732,000 15.9% 186 27 213 2,042 64 730 111 ap2015

2017 429,610 2,702,123 15.9% 186 32 218 1,970 51 723 115 ap2018

2020 436,251 2,776,200 15.7% 199 41 240 1,817 74 765 117 ap2021

2022 439,200 2,811,000 15.6% 201 44 245 1,792 81 769 118 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	110,000	1,500,000	7.3%	72	4	76	1,447	16	240	45	ap1951
1969	152,240	1,898,068	8.0%	76	8	84	1,812	8	523	52	ap1971
1980	198,800	1,826,000	10.9%	95	8	103	1,930	59	694	48	ap1981
1990	271,362	1,866,362	14.5%	134	9	143	1,897	54	675	73	ap1991
1999	314,350	2,592,000	12.1%	134	11	145	2,167	65	690	78	ap2000
2000	317,370	2,598,200	12.2%	138	10	148	2,144	62	696	82	ap2001
2001	325,170	2,618,410	12.4%	145	15	160	2,032	67	696	87	ap2002
2002	330,200	2,625,400	12.6%	145	13	158	2,089	72	698	90	ap2003
2003	340,000	2,715,000	12.5%	154	17	171	1,988	67	696	95	ap2004
2004	348,000	2,765,000	12.6%	146	18	164	2,121	68	605	103	ap2005
2010	421,820	2,590,000	16.3%	168	30	198	2,130	59	702	106	ap2011
2014	435,000	2,732,000	15.9%	186	27	213	2,042	64	730	111	ap2015
2017	429,610	2,702,123	15.9%	186	32	218	1,970	51	723	115	ap2018
2020	436,251	2,776,200	15.7%	199	41	240	1,817	74	765	117	ap2021
2022	439,200	2,811,000	15.6%	201	44	245	1,792	81	769	118	ap2023