Kottar (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Nazarene Soosai, Bishop
Peter Remigius, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 26 May 1930
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madurai
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 750 (289 Square Miles)
Description: Taluks of Thovalai, Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam, and Vilavancode in the District of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu
Official Web Site: https://www.kottardiocese.org
Mailing Address: Catholic Bishop's House, P.O. Box 17, Asaripallam Road, Nagercoil-629001, Kanyakumari Dt., Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (04652)278.981
Fax: 278.570

Past and Present Ordinaries

Lawrence Pereira † (26 May 1930 Appointed - 5 Jan 1938 Died)
Thomas Roch Agniswami, S.J. † (5 Jan 1939 Appointed - 23 Nov 1970 Retired)
Marianus Arokiasamy † (23 Nov 1970 Appointed - 3 Jul 1987 Appointed, Archbishop of Madurai)
Leon Augustine Tharmaraj † (14 Nov 1988 Appointed - 16 Jan 2007 Died)
Peter Remigius (30 Jun 2007 Appointed - 20 May 2017 Retired)
Nazarene Soosai (20 May 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
26 May 1930	Erected	Diocese of Quilon (Talulcs of Travancore: Valavanlcode, Kalkulam, Towala, and Agastisvaram (except Districts of Towàla, Agastisvaràm, and a portion of Valavanlcode))	Diocese of Kottar (erected)
22 December 2014	Territory Lost	Diocese of Kottar (Thirithuvapuram and Mulagumoodu)	Diocese of Kuzhithurai (erected)

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

1950 148,321 795,000 18.7% 57 8 65 2,281 16 169 47 ap1951

1970 254,036 1,125,000 22.6% 107 16 123 2,065 32 400 64 ap1971

1980 303,000 1,350,000 22.4% 139 21 160 1,893 65 522 83 ap1981

1990 353,867 1,703,322 20.8% 135 31 166 2,131 1 60 577 96 ap1991

1999 440,804 1,734,752 25.4% 170 46 216 2,040 58 645 113 ap2000

2000 475,181 2,098,355 22.6% 165 42 207 2,295 55 559 115 ap2001

2001 492,914 2,113,987 23.3% 178 43 221 2,230 56 719 117 ap2002

2002 507,914 2,129,338 23.9% 174 45 219 2,319 57 679 131 ap2003

2003 481,170 2,146,044 22.4% 171 44 215 2,238 76 618 124 ap2004

2004 477,174 1,720,250 27.7% 182 44 226 2,111 74 596 126 ap2005

2013 512,389 1,659,061 30.9% 236 69 305 1,679 108 622 169 ap2014

2014 260,484 885,865 29.4% 193 37 230 1,132 12 471 81 bul:22Dec2014

2016 538,000 1,922,000 28.0% 176 35 211 2,549 62 440 84 ap2017

2019 266,285 861,974 30.9% 183 48 231 1,152 70 492 93 ap2020

2021 268,529 869,702 30.9% 163 37 200 1,342 59 501 94 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1950	148,321	795,000	18.7%	57	8	65	2,281		16	169	47	ap1951
1970	254,036	1,125,000	22.6%	107	16	123	2,065		32	400	64	ap1971
1980	303,000	1,350,000	22.4%	139	21	160	1,893		65	522	83	ap1981
1990	353,867	1,703,322	20.8%	135	31	166	2,131	1	60	577	96	ap1991
1999	440,804	1,734,752	25.4%	170	46	216	2,040		58	645	113	ap2000
2000	475,181	2,098,355	22.6%	165	42	207	2,295		55	559	115	ap2001
2001	492,914	2,113,987	23.3%	178	43	221	2,230		56	719	117	ap2002
2002	507,914	2,129,338	23.9%	174	45	219	2,319		57	679	131	ap2003
2003	481,170	2,146,044	22.4%	171	44	215	2,238		76	618	124	ap2004
2004	477,174	1,720,250	27.7%	182	44	226	2,111		74	596	126	ap2005
2013	512,389	1,659,061	30.9%	236	69	305	1,679		108	622	169	ap2014
2014	260,484	885,865	29.4%	193	37	230	1,132		12	471	81	bul:22Dec2014
2016	538,000	1,922,000	28.0%	176	35	211	2,549		62	440	84	ap2017
2019	266,285	861,974	30.9%	183	48	231	1,152		70	492	93	ap2020
2021	268,529	869,702	30.9%	163	37	200	1,342		59	501	94	ap2022