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Diocese of Cochin

*Dioecesis Coccinensis*

കൊച്ചി രൂപത
Diocese of Cochin; Dioecesis Coccinensis; കൊച്ചി രൂപത
	Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
Location
Country	India
Episcopal conference	Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Kerala Catholic Bishop's Council
Ecclesiastical province	Verapoly
Residence	Bishop's House Bp Joseph Kureethara Road, P.B. No. 11 Fort Kochi, Kochi - 682001
Headquarters	Fort Kochi, Kerala
Coordinates	9°57′53″N 76°14′34″E / 9.964774°N 76.242738°E
Statistics
Area	236 km2 (91 sq mi)
Population; - Total; - Catholics	(as of 2021); 625,500; 176,680 (28.2%)
Parishes	51
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	4 February 1557; 467 years ago
Cathedral	Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Fort Cochin
Patron saint	Holy Cross; St Francis Xavier;
Secular priests	163 Diocesan Priests[citation needed]
Language	Malayalam; English;
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop	Joseph Kalathiparambil
Apostolic Administrator	Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil
Vicar General	Msgr Shaiju Pariathussery
Episcopal Vicars	Very Rev Fr Antony Kattiparambil
Judicial Vicar	Very Rev Fr. Antony Kattiparambil
Bishops emeritus	Joseph Kariyil; John Thattumkal;
Website
	dioceseofcochin.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin (Latin: Dioecesis Coccinensis) is a Roman Catholic Diocese in Kochi, Kerala, India. A constituent of the sui iuris Latin Church, the diocese was established in 1557 after the domination of the Portuguese-speaking missionaries. The diocese is a suffragan church to the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly, and serves the Latin Catholics of Malabar.^[3]^[4]

The diocese is situated with the Arabian Sea in the west, the Archdiocese of Verapoly in both north and east, and the Diocese of Alleppey in the south. The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica in Fort Cochin is the diocese's cathedral where the Diocesan Administrator resides. The diocesan administrator was Msgr. Shaiju Pariathussery after the retirement of Joseph Kariyil till Pope Francis appointed Bp James Anaparambil, Bishop of Diocese of Alleppey, as apostolic administrator sede plena to the diocese on 11 October 2024.^[5]

History

The early Christian missionaries arrived in India from Portugal in 1550, pioneering the Portuguese mission in the country. Subsequently, the Christians of Kochi began practicing the Latin liturgical rite. St. Francis Xavier often visited the land of Kochi, where he offered holy mass at the St. Francis Church, in which lies the body of Vasco da Gama buried in 1524.^[6] The Order of the Franciscans built a monastery in 1518 and two more, of the Jesuit Order, in 1550 and 1561. In 1553 the Dominicans sisters started a College and Monastery in Kochi, and before 1557, publication began and book printing began in Kochi. The Society of Jesus was then founded by Father Balthazar Gago, S.J. in 1550 and in 1560, the King of Portugal built for the Society of Jesus, the college of Kochi, and in 1562, a novitiate of the Society was established there. Following the rising of the land, Pope Leo X, in 1514 erected the Diocese of Funchal, and in 1534, the Diocese of Goa which was joined by the people in Kochi. The diocese of Cochin was elected by Pope Paul IV on 4 February 1557, in his decree "Pro Excellenti Praeeminentia"^[6] for the two new suffragan dioceses (the other being Diocese of Malacca).^[7]^[1] After its erection as a diocese, it was the second and preceded southern and eastern India, Burma, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). It was later reorganized following the Concordat of 23 June 1886, between Leo XIII and King Luiz of Portugal.^{[citation needed]}

Before the missionaries, people of Malabar practiced Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Three out of the eight Franciscan friars, who sailed from Lisbon to India died in the 1500 masacre in Kozhikode. The survivors then settled at Kochi and from there began the foundation of the Diocese of Cochin. They also received support from other missionaries working from the city which was a centre. Vasco da Gama, a messenger from Portugal who had arrived at Cochin accepted the writings of the early converted Christians for the King of Portugal. The Syrian Bishop of those Christians promised obedience to the pope through the Franciscan missionaries and two Nestorian priests, who later accompanied Gama to Lisbon en route for Rome. The pioneer priests of the diocese, Franciscans João d'Elvas and Pedro d'Amarante until 1507, preached the Gospel at Vypin, Pallippuram, and Kodungallur. Father Vincent de Lagos established the College of Kodungallur in 1540 to train the Nestorian Christians.^{[citation needed]}

The Papal Bull of Pope Paul IV, which was used earlier in erecting the diocese was also utilised in raising the collegiate church of the Holy Cross, and the parish church of Cochin to a cathedral of the diocese with the first Bishop of Cochin, a Dominican Father Jorge Tremudo. In 1577, Brother João Gonsalves, S.J. was engraved at Cochin for the first time, thus, outlined the first Malealam book Outlines of Christian Doctrine, which was written in Portuguese by St. Francis Xavier to aid children. Cochin was taken on 6 January 1663, by the Dutch after a siege of six months. The city was reduced in size; the clergy were expelled; the monasteries and colleges, bishop's palace, etc, were razed to the ground. The church of St. Francis of Assisi, belonging to the Franciscan monastery was spared by the conquerors and converted for their religious use. After the English overthrew the Dutch, they kept the church which was turned into a merchandise to serve as a witness to the past four centuries, as well as an existing oldest church in India.^[6]

Administration

Pope: Francis
Apostolic Administrator: Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil
Vicar General : Very Rev Msgr Shaiju Pariathussery
Episcopal Vicar For Religious & Judicial Vicar: Very Rev Fr Antony Kattiparambil
Chancellor: Very Rev Dr Johney Xavier Puthukkattu
Procurator: Very Rev Fr Maxon Kuttikattu
Minor Seminary Rector: Very Rev Dr Antony Santhosh Veluthedath

Ordinaries

Sl.no	Ordinary	Year of appointment	Last year of service
1	Dom Giorgio Temudo O.P	1557	1567
2	Dom Henrique De Tavora O.P	1576	1578
3	Dom Antonio De Baja	1578	1578
4	Dom Matheus De Medina O.S.A.	1579	1588
5	Dom Andrea De Sant Maria O.F.M	1588	1610
6	Dom Sebastianos A Santa Pedro O.A.	1615	1624
7	Dom Luiz De Britto A Menezes O.S.A.	1628	1629
8	Dom Francesco Baretto	1630	1630
9	Dom Miguel Da Cruz Rangal O.P	1633	1646
10	Dom Antonio Da Serpa	1647	1647
11	Dom Joao Celo	1650	1650
12	Dom Fabio Dos Reis	1668	1668
13	Dom Fernando Da santa Maria	1672	1672
14	Dom Antonio Da Santo Dionysio O.S.A.	1676	1685
15	Dom Pedro Da Silva O.S.A.	1688	1691
16	Dom Antonio Da Santa Teresa	1692	1692
17	Dom Pedro Pachecco O.P.	1694	1713
18	Dom Francesco Pedro Dos Martyres	1717	1717
19	Dom Francesco De Vasconselo	1722	1742
20	Dom Antonio De Conceisao	1745	1745
21	Dom Clement Jose Colocao Leita S.J	1745	1776
22	Dom Sebastiao Da Costa	1777	1777
23	Dom Manuel De Santa Catherina O.C.D.	1778	1785
24	Dom Jose De Soledad O.C.D.	1785	1818
25	Dom Tomas De Noronha E Britto O.P.	1819	1819
26	Dom Joakim De Santa Rita Boethello	1832	1832
27	Dom Joao Gomez Ferreira	1887	1897
28	Dom Matheas De Oliveiro Xavier	1898	1908
29	Dom Jose Bento Martin Rebeiro	1909	1931
30	Dom Abilio Agusto Vas Das Neves	1934	1939
31	Dom Jose Vieira Alvarnaz	1942	1951
32	Rt. Rev. Dr. Alexander Edezhath	1952	1975
33	Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kureethara	1975	1999
34	Rt. Rev Dr. John Thattumkal	2000	2008
35	Rt. Rev Dr. Joseph Kariyil	2009	2024

Parishes

The Diocese Of Cochin is blessed with fifty one independent parishes with resident priests under six ecclesiastical districts as follows

SECOND DISTRICT – KANNAMALY FORANE
FIRST DISTRICT – FORT COCHIN FORANE
IMAGE	NAME OF THE PARISH	YEAR ESTABLISHED
	Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica Fort Kochi	1505
	Our Lady Of Life Church Mattancherry	9th century
	Our Lady Of Hope Church Vypeen	1605
	SS Peter and Paul Church Amaravathy	1857
	Holy Family Church Nazareth	1901
	Stella Maris Church Willington Island	1955
	St Joseph's Bethlehem Church Chullicakal	1974
	St Mary's Church Kochery	2016
	St Antony's Forane Church Kannamaly	1873
	St Louis Church Mundamvely	9th century
	St Sebastian's Church Chellanam	1832
	St Joseph's Church Cheriyakadavu	1968
	St Francis Assisi Church Kattiparambu	1980
	St Thomas Apostle Church Santhome	1990
	St John The Baptist Church Anjilithara	2019
THIRD DISTRICT – EDAKOCHI FORANE
	St Lawrence Church Edacochin	9th century
	St Sebastian's Church Thoppumpady	1833
	Santa Cruz Church Perumpadappu	1965
	St Joseph's Church Chirackal	1965
	St Mary's Church North Edakochi	1978
	St Lawrence Church Palluruthy	1986
	St Thomas More Church Palluruthy	1991
	St Joseph's Church Maduracompany	2012
	Santa Maria Church Perumpadappu	2018
FOURTH DISTRICT – KUMBALANGHI FORANE
	St George Church Pazhangad	1869
	St Peter's Church Kumbalanghi	1875
	St Joseph's Church North Kumbalanghi	1967
	Immaculate Conception Church Ezhupunna	1977
	St Sebastian's Church Neendakara	1977
	Sacred Heart Church Kumbalanghi	1994
	St Martin De Porres Church Kallencherry	1996
	Holy Maris Church Azhikakam	2014
	San Jose Church Ettumkal	2014
FIFTH DISTRICT – AROOR FORANE
	St Augustine's Church Aroor	1901
	St Francis Xavier Church Eramallore	1843
	St Joseph's Church Kumbalam	1977
	St Antony's Church Arookutty	1978
	St Joseph's Church Vallethode	1986
	Our Lady Of Fatima Church Kodamthuruth
	St Mary's Church Chandiroor	2004
	St Sebastian's Church Karunyapuram	2013
	Little Flower Church Perumbalam	2013
	St Jude Church Eramallor
	Queen Of Peace Church Ezhupunna	2024
SIXTH DISTRICT – THANKEY FORANE
	St Mary's Forane Church Thankey	1832
	Our Lady Of Assumption Church Poomkavu	1860
	St George Church Arthumkal	1866
	St Francis Xavier Church Vayalar	1936
	St Sebastian's Church Areeparambu	2016
	St George Church Arasupuram	2017
	St Antony's Church Pathirapally

In 9th century there were only three parishes in West Kochi: St. Lawrence Church Edakochi, Our Lady Of Life Church Mattancherry, and St. Louis Church Mundamveli.^[8]

Pilgrim and Novena Centers

PILGRIM AND NOVENA CENTERS
NAME OF THE CHURCH	VENERATION	LOCATION
HOLY CROSS PILGRIM CENTER (COONAN KURISU) MATTANCHERRY	HOLY CROSS	<mapframe> problems: Attribute "latitude" has an invalid value Attribute "longitude" has an invalid value
OUR LADY OF VELANKANNI SHRINE,MARUVAKAD, CHELLANAM	OUR LADY OF HEALTH
ST JOSEPH'S MIRACULOUS SHRINE KANNAMALY	ST JOSEPH
ST SEBASTIAN'S CHURCH EDACOCHIN,TOMB OF SERVANT OF GOD MSGR.LAWRENCE PULIYANATH	MSGR.LAWRENCE PULIYANATH (Servant Of God)

Saints and causes for canonisation

St Francis Xavier worked in the costal belt of the diocese as a missionary,often visited the diocese.
St John De Britto visited the diocese on his way towards his mission.
St Joseph Vaz served the diocese as its Vicar General.
St Theresa Of Culcutta, widley known as Mother Theresa,visited the diocese and inaugurated Cochin Institute of printing technology (CIPT Press) In Thoppumpady.
St Devasahayam a member of the diocese during his great martyrdom.
Venerable Matteo Ricci Ordained as a Priest in Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica Fort Kochi.
Servant of God Lawrence Puliyanath, a dioceasean priest who is often called as the apostle of the poor,served in the parish of St Lawrence Church Edacochin as Assistant Vicar and Later Vicar for more that 33 years.

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Annuario Pontificio (2022) via Catholic-Hierarchy.org^[1]

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c Cheney 2024.
^ Diocese 2023.
^ "Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly", Wikipedia, 25 October 2024, retrieved 8 November 2024
^ "Verapoly (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
^ "News | Catholic Connect". cc.pacifyca.com. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c apostolicnunciatureindia.com 2000.
^ uc.pt 2022.
^ ucanews.com.

Sources

"Apostolic Nunciature, India & Nepal". apostolicnunciatureindia.com. 25 June 2000. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
Cheney, David M. (4 February 2024). "Cochin (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". Catholic-Hierarchy. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
"Ecclesiastical Structure of the Diocese of Cochin". Diocese of Cochin.org. 1 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
"Diocese of Cochin, India 🇮🇳". GCatholic. 21 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
"Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va (in Italian). Vatican City, Italy: Bollettino Sala Stampa della Santa Sede. 2 March 2024. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
"Corporate Educational Agency under the Diocese of Cochin". ceacochin.org. 1 April 1981. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
"Diocese Activities and Organizations of India". Union of Catholic Asian News. Hong Kong, Asia: Union of Catholic Asian News Limited. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
"Bula Cochim traduzida" (PDF). uc.pt (in Portuguese). 23 February 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024. 1558, 4 de Fevereiro, Roma – Bula Pro excellenti praeeminentia, pela qual Paulo IV instituiu a diocese de Cochim, desmembrando o seu território da então criada arquidiocese de Goa e concedendo ao rei de Portugal o direito de padroado e de apresentação do bispo da nova diocese.