Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin

Coordinates: 9°57′53″N 76°14′34″E / 9.964774°N 76.242738°E / 9.964774; 76.242738
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Diocese of Cochin

Dioecesis Coccinensis
Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
Bishop's House, Diocese of Cochin
Seal of Diocese of Cochin
St Antony's Shrine Chullickal
Location
CountryIndia
Episcopal conferenceCatholic Bishops' Conference of India Kerala Catholic Bishop's Council
Ecclesiastical provinceVerapoly
HeadquartersFort Cochin, Kerala
Coordinates9°57′53″N 76°14′34″E / 9.964774°N 76.242738°E / 9.964774; 76.242738
Statistics
Area236 km2 (91 sq mi)[1]
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2021)
625,500[a]
176,680[a] (28.2%)
Parishes51[a]
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established4 February 1557; 467 years ago (4 February 1557)
CathedralSanta Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Fort Cochin
Patron saint
Secular priests163 Diocesan Priests[citation needed]
Language
  • Malayalam
  • English
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Diocesan AdministratorVery Rev Msgr. Shaiju Pariathussery[2]
Metropolitan ArchbishopJoseph Kalathiparambil
Episcopal VicarsVery Rev Fr Antony Kattiparambil
Judicial VicarVery Rev Fr. Antony Kattiparambil[2]
Bishops emeritus
Website
dioceseofcochin.org
Map

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin (Latin: Dioecesis Coccinensis; Portuguese: Diocese de Cochim; Malayalam: കൊച്ചി രൂപത) is a Roman Catholic Diocese of the Latin Rite in Cochin, Kerala, India. Established in 1557, the diocese is the second in India after the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. It is a suffragan church in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly and serves the Latin Catholics of Malabar.

The diocese covers 236 km2 (91 sq mi)[1] of Kerala, and 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 while Msgr. Shaiju Pariyathusherry is the Diocesan Administrator heading the church after the retirement of Joseph Kariyil, the Bishop emeritus in 2024.

History[edit]

Old Map of Diocese of Cochin (c. 1550)

The early Christian missionaries arrived from Portugal to India in 1550, and started the pioneer Portuguese mission in the country while the christians in Cochin became practicing the Latin Rite. St. Francis Xavier often visited the land of Cochin, where he offers the holy mass at the St. Francis Church which lies the body of Vasco da Gama buried in 1524.[3] The Order of the Franciscans built a monastery in 1518 and two others of the Jesuits Order in 1550 and 1561. In 1553 the Dominicans sisters started a College and Monastery in Cochin. Before 1557, publication began and book printing began in Cochin. 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 Cochin, 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 Cochin. The diocese of Cochin was later elected by Pope Paul IV on 4 February 1557, in his decree "Pro Excellenti Praeeminentia"[3] for the two new suffragan dioceses (the other being Diocese of Malacca).[4][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.

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 Calicut. The survivors then settled at Cochin 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 Vypeen, Palliport, and Cranganore. Father Vincent de Lagos established the College of Cranganore in 1540 to train the Nestorian Christians.

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.[3]

Administration[edit]

  • Pope: Francis
  • Bishop: sede vacante
  • Diocesan Administrator: 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[edit]

Ordinaries of the diocese of Cochin[1][5]
Name Period Notes
Jorge Temudo, O.P. 1557‍–‍1567 Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Henrique de Távora e Brito [pt], O.P 1567‍–‍1578 Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Antonio de Baja[citation needed] 1578
Mateus de Medina [pt], O.S.A 1579‍–‍1588 Appointed Archbishop of Goa
André de Santa Maria [pt], O.F.Μ. 1588‍–‍1610 Resigned
Sebastião de São Pedro [pt], O.S.A. 1615‍–‍1624 Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Luis de Brito de Menezes [pt] 1627‍–‍1629 Died in office
Miguel da Cruz Rangel [pt], O.P. 1631‍–‍1646 Died in office
Antonio da Serpa 1647
João Coelho 1650‍–‍1650[b]
Francesco Baretto, S.J. year uncertain‍–‍1663[b] Died in office
Fábio dos Reis Fernandes [pt] 1672–1672[b] Appointed Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde
Fernando da Santa Maria 1672
Antonio da Santo Dionysio [pt], O.S.A. 1676‍–‍1685
Pedro da Silva (bishop) [pt], O.S.A. 1688‍–‍1691 Died in office
Antonio da Santa Teresa 1692
Pedro Pachecco, O.P. 1694‍–‍1714 Died in office
Francesco Pedro Dos Martyres ????‍–‍1715 Died; not possessed
Francisco de Vasconcellos [pt], S.J. 1721‍–‍1743 Died in office
Antonio de Conceisao 1745
Clemente José Colaço Leitão [de], S.J. 1745‍–‍1771 Died
Sebastiao da Costa 1777
Emmanuel Felix Soares (de Santa Catarina) [pt], O.C.D. 1778‍–‍1783 Appointed Archbishop of Goa
José Marques da Silva, O.C.D.[c] 1783‍–‍year uncertain
Tomás Manuel de Noronha e Brito [pt], O.P. 1819‍–‍1828 Confirmed, Bishop of Olinda
Joakim de Santa Rita Boethello 1832
João Gomes Ferreira [pt] 1887‍–‍1897 Died in office
Mateus de Oliveira Xavier 1897‍–‍1909
José Bento Martins Ribeiro 1909‍–‍1931 Died in office
Abílio Augusto Vaz das Neves [pt] 1933‍–‍1938 Appointed Bishop of Bragança-Miranda
José Vieira Alvernaz 1941‍–‍1950 Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Goa and Damão
Alexander Edezath [de] 1952‍–‍1975 Retired
Joseph Kureethara 1975‍–‍1999 Died in office
John Thattumkal SSC 2000‍–‍2009 Resigned
Joseph Kariyil 2009‍–‍2024 Retired[6]

Historical churches[edit]

Pilgrim centres[edit]

  • St Mary's Forane Church Thankey
    St Mary's Forane Church Thankey
  • Our Lady Of Assumption Church Poomkavu
    Our Lady Of Assumption Church Poomkavu
  • Holy Cross Church( Koonan Kurisu) Mattancherry
    Holy Cross Church( Koonan Kurisu) Mattancherry
  • Our Lady Of Velankanni Shrine Maruvakad
    Our Lady Of Velankanni Shrine Maruvakad
  • Tomb Of Msgr Lawrence Puliyanath
    Tomb Of Msgr Lawrence Puliyanath
  • St Joseph's Miraculous Shrine Kannamalay
    St Joseph's Miraculous Shrine Kannamalay

Parishes[edit]

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

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
SECOND DISTRICT – KANNAMALY FORANE
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.[7]

Saints and causes for canonisation[edit]

  • 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 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.

Education[edit]

The Diocese of Cochin came into existence on 4 February 1557 having the jurisdiction extending from Canannore to Cape Comorin and Ceylon on the west Coast and the entire India East coast including Burma. The first bishop of Cochin was Dom George Temudo (1557–1567) He ruled the Diocese efficiently, settled many disputes and acted as a peace maker. During the time of Dom Temudo he could enlist excellent cooperation and support of Raja of Cochin in order to sail smoothly along with establishment of institutions. Following him the other Bishops of Cochin were establishing many social, educational and humanitarian projects together with the spiritual care of the people. Accordingly, the educational institutions were started in various parts of the Diocese in connection with the parishes. All these schools were independently managed by the parish as single management. Bishop Joseph Kureethara, the 33rd Bishop of Cochin after taking charge his office as bishop of Cochin on 21 December 1975, started to form a Corporate Educational Agency for the Diocese of Cochin as per the Kerala Educational Acts & Rules. After many discussions the Diocesan Senate has decided to form a Corporate Educational Agency for the Diocese. Then on 1979 April 11 Bishop Joseph Kureethara send an application to DPI for the approval and the DPI by order no. K.Dis.10370/81/42 dated 5/7/81 approved CEA. The Corporate Educational Agency started functioning from 1 April 1981 onwards as the Bishop of Cochin being the General Manager and then entrusted his power to various priests of the Diocese as his Power of Attorney holder.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Annuario Pontificio (2022) via Catholic-Hierarchy.org[1]
  2. ^ a b c GCatholic notes this date as "uncanonical".[5]
  3. ^ Joseph a Solitudine

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cheney 2024.
  2. ^ a b Diocese 2023.
  3. ^ a b c apostolicnunciatureindia.com 2000.
  4. ^ uc.pt 2022.
  5. ^ a b GCatholic 2024.
  6. ^ press.vatican.va 2024.
  7. ^ ucanews.com.
  8. ^ ceacochin.org 1981.

Sources[edit]

  • "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.
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