The Roman Catholic Diocese of Punalur ( la, Punaluren(sis)) is a
diocese located in the city of
Punalur in the
ecclesiastical province of
Trivandrum in India.
History
* December 21, 1985: Established as Diocese of Punalur from the
Diocese of Quilon
The Diocese of Quilon is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church based in the southern Indian city of Kollam. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Trivan ...
Belgian Carmelite missionaries were the First Fathers of Punalur and of places around Punalur. During the Second World War the First Fathers had to go back, entrusting the church work to the diocesan clergy of Quilon (
Kollam
Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city i ...
).
Punalur was separated from the
Diocese of Quilon
The Diocese of Quilon is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church based in the southern Indian city of Kollam. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Trivan ...
(Kollam) and created into a separate unit by the Bull “Verba Christi” of
Pope John Paul II, issued on 21 December 1985.
Territory
Present Diocese of Punalur extended to the entire taluks of
Punalur,
Pathanapuram,
Kottarakkara,
Kunnathur,
Mavelikara,
Adoor,
Konni,
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37 ...
,
Kozhencherry, and several pakuthies of the taluks of
Karunagappally,
Karthikapally
Karthikappally is a village in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combin ...
, and
Chengannur
Chengannur (also spelled Chengannoor or Chenganur) is a Municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala State, India. It is located in the extreme eastern part of the Alappuzha district, on the banks of Pamba River.
Chengannur is north of ...
.
Leadership
*
Bishops of Punalur (
Roman Church)
** Bishop Selvister Ponnumuthan (May 8, 2009 – present)
** Bishop Joseph Kariyil (March 12, 2005 – May 8, 2009)
** Bishop
Mathias Kappil (December 21, 1985 – March 12, 2005)
References
External links
GCatholic.org
Catholic Hierarchy
{{DEFAULTSORT:Punalur
Roman Catholic dioceses in India
Christian organizations established in 1985
Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century
Dioceses in Kerala
1985 establishments in Kerala
Churches in Thiruvananthapuram district