Diocese of Vellore

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Bishop(s) Soundaraj Periyanayagam, S.D.B., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Erected: 13 November 1952 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor) Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: India Square Kilometers: 12,265 (4,737 Square Miles) Mailing Address: 34 Officer's Line, Vellore-632001, Tamilnadu, India Telephone: (0416)232.570 Fax: 226.977

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Pablo Mariaselvam, S.D.B. † (4 Feb 1953 Appointed - 25 Jun 1954 Died)
• David Maryanayagam Swamidoss Pillat, S.D.B. † (4 Jul 1956 Appointed - 17 Jul 1969 Died)
• Royappan Antony Muthu † (23 Nov 1970 Appointed - 19 Dec 1980 Died)
• Michael Augustine (19 Jun 1981 Appointed - 18 Feb 1992 Appointed, Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore)
• Malayappan Chinnappa, S.D.B. (17 Nov 1993 Appointed - 1 Apr 2005 Appointed, Archbishop of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))
• Soundaraj Periyanayagam, S.D.B. (11 Jul 2006 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 November 1952	Erected	Archdiocese of Madras	Diocese of Vellore (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
1970	67,224	3,490,908	1.9%	38	57	95	707		124	218	36	ap1971
1980	93,560	4,500,000	2.1%	63	37	100	935		54	380	51	ap1981
1990	126,180	5,010,680	2.5%	86	44	130	970		129	513	60	ap1991
1998	131,150	5,590,953	2.3%	83	47	130	1,008		77	645	71	ap2002
2002	145,841	6,287,632	2.3%	101	35	136	1,072		65	645	73	ap2003
2003	145,996	8,877,989	1.6%	101	35	136	1,073		55	645	79	ap2004
2004	146,091	8,869,698	1.6%	103	35	138	1,058		55	645	82	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Michael Augustine (Bishop: 19 Jun 1981 to 18 Feb 1992)
• Malayappan Chinnappa, S.D.B. (Bishop: 17 Nov 1993 to 1 Apr 2005)
• Thomas Aquinas Lephonse (Priest: 22 May 1980 to 10 Jul 2002)
• Soundaraj Periyanayagam, S.D.B. (Bishop: 11 Jul 2006 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Pablo Mariaselvam, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 4 Feb 1953 to 25 Jun 1954)
• Royappan Antony Muthu † (Bishop: 23 Nov 1970 to 19 Dec 1980)
• David Maryanayagam Swamidoss Pillat, S.D.B. † (Bishop: 4 Jul 1956 to 17 Jul 1969)