Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin

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Diocese of Cochin

Dioecesis Coccinensis
Kathedralbasilika Santa Cruz 2018-04-04a.jpg
Location
Country India
Episcopal conference Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Kerala Catholic Bishop's Council
Ecclesiastical province Verapoly
Headquarters Fort Cochin, Kerala
Coordinates 9°57′53″N76°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 [lower-alpha 1]
176,680 [lower-alpha 1]  (28.2%)
Parishes51 [lower-alpha 1]
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established4 February 1557;467 years ago (4 February 1557)
Cathedral Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Fort Cochin
Patron saint
Secular priests 163 Diocesan Priests[ citation needed ]
Language
  • Malayalam
  • English
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Diocesan Administrator Very Rev Msgr. Shaiju Pariathussery [2]
Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil
Episcopal VicarsVery Rev Fr Antony Kattiparambil
Judicial VicarVery Rev Fr. Antony Kattiparambil [2]
Bishops emeritus
Website
dioceseofcochin.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin (Latin : Dioecesis Coccinensis) is a Roman Catholic Diocese in Cochin, 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 Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and serves the Latin Catholics of Malabar. It is under the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly.

Contents

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 current administrator is Msgr. Shaiju Pariyathusherry after the retirement of Joseph Kariyil, the Bishop emeritus in 2024.

History

The early Christian missionaries arrived in India from Portugal in 1550, pioneering the Portuguese mission in the country. Subsequently, the Christians of Cochin began practicing the Latin liturgical rite. St. Francis Xavier often visited the land of Cochin, where he offered holy mass at the St. Francis Church, in which lies the body of Vasco da Gama buried in 1524. [3] 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 Cochin, and 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 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]

Historical Churches

Administration

Ordinaries

Ordinaries of the diocese of Cochin [1] [5]
NamePeriodNotes
D. Jorge Temudo (Archaeological Survey of India, Goa).png Jorge Temudo, O.P. 15571567Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Henrique de Távora e Brito  [ pt ], O.P15671578Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Antonio de Baja[ citation needed ]1578
D. Frei Mateus (Archaeological Survey of India, Goa).png Mateus de Medina  [ pt ], O.S.A 15791588Appointed Archbishop of Goa
André de Santa Maria  [ pt ], O.F.Μ. 15881610Resigned
D. Sebastiao de Sao Pedro (Archaeological Survey of India, Goa).png Sebastião de São Pedro  [ pt ], O.S.A.16151624Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Luis de Brito de Menezes  [ pt ]16271629Died in office
D. Miguel da Cruz Rangel (Archaeological Survey of India, Goa).png Miguel da Cruz Rangel  [ pt ], O.P.16311646Died in office
Antonio da Serpa 1647
João Coelho 16501650 [lower-alpha 2]
Francesco Baretto, S.J. year uncertain1663 [lower-alpha 2] Died in office
Fábio dos Reis Fernandes  [ pt ]1672–1672 [lower-alpha 2] Appointed Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde
Fernando da Santa Maria 1672
Antonio da Santo Dionysio  [ pt ], O.S.A.16761685
Pedro da Silva (bishop)  [ pt ], O.S.A.16881691Died in office
Antonio da Santa Teresa 1692
Pedro Pachecco, O.P.16941714Died in office
Francesco Pedro Dos Martyres  ????1715Died; not possessed
Francisco de Vasconcellos  [ pt ], S.J.17211743Died in office
Antonio de Conceisao 1745
Bischof Leitao Cochin.jpg Clemente José Colaço Leitão  [ de ], S.J.17451771Died
Sebastiao da Costa 1777
Dom Frei Manuel de Santa Catarina.png Emmanuel Felix Soares (de Santa Catarina)  [ pt ], O.C.D. 17781783Appointed Archbishop of Goa
Dom Frei Jose da Soledade.png José Marques da Silva, O.C.D. [lower-alpha 3] 1783year uncertain
Tomás Manuel de Noronha e Brito  [ pt ], O.P.18191828Confirmed, Bishop of Olinda
Joakim de Santa Rita Boethello 1832
D. Joao Gomes Ferreira. Bispo de Cochim.jpg João Gomes Ferreira  [ pt ]18871897Died in office
Mateus de Oliveira Xavier.png Mateus de Oliveira Xavier 18971909
José Bento Martins Ribeiro 19091931Died in office
Abílio Augusto Vaz das Neves  [ pt ]19331938Appointed Bishop of Bragança-Miranda
Jose Vieira Alvernaz.jpg José Vieira Alvernaz 19411950Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Goa and Damão
Edezathbp.png Alexander Edezath 19521975Retired
Kureetharabp.png Joseph Kureethara 19751999Died in office
Thattunkalbp.png John Thattumkal SSC20002009Resigned
Kariyilbp.png Joseph Kariyil 20092024Retired [6]

Parishes

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
IMAGENAME OF THE PARISHYEAR ESTABLISHED
Santacruzkochi.jpg Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica Fort Kochi 1505
Jeevamatha church.jpg Our Lady Of Life Church Mattancherry 9th century
Vypeen church.jpg Our Lady Of Hope Church Vypeen 1605
Amaravathy church.jpg SS Peter and Paul Church Amaravathy1857
Nazarethchurchkochi.jpg Holy Family Church Nazareth1901
Islandchurch.jpg Stella Maris Church Willington Island1955
Chullickalchurch.jpg St Joseph's Bethlehem Church Chullicakal1974
Kochery church.jpg St Mary's Church Kochery2016
SECOND DISTRICT – KANNAMALY FORANE
Kannamalaychurch.jpg St Antony's Forane Church Kannamaly1873
Mundamvelichurch.jpg St Louis Church Mundamvely 9th century
Chellanamchurch.jpg St Sebastian's Church Chellanam1832
Cheriyakadavuchurch.jpg St Joseph's Church Cheriyakadavu1968
Kattiparambuchurch.jpg St Francis Assisi Church Kattiparambu1980
Santhomechurchkochi.jpg St Thomas Apostle Church Santhome1990
Anjilataharachurch.jpg St John The Baptist Church Anjilithara2019
THIRD DISTRICT – EDAKOCHI FORANE
Stlawrenceedacochin.jpg St Lawrence Church Edacochin 9th century
Thoppumpadychurch.jpg St Sebastian's Church Thoppumpady1833
Perumbadappuchurch.jpg Santa Cruz Church Perumpadappu1965
Chirackalchurch.jpg St Joseph's Church Chirackal1965
Stmarysedacochin.jpg St Mary's Church North Edakochi1978
Nambyapuramchurch.jpg St Lawrence Church Palluruthy1986
Thomasmorepalluruthy.jpg St Thomas More Church Palluruthy1991
Madhuracompanychurch.jpg St Joseph's Church Maduracompany2012
Santamariachurch.jpg Santa Maria Church Perumpadappu2018
FOURTH DISTRICT – KUMBALANGHI FORANE
Pazhangadchurch.jpg St George Church Pazhangad1869
Stpeters.jpg St Peter's Church Kumbalanghi1875
Stjosephs.jpg St Joseph's Church North Kumbalanghi1967
Ezhupunnaic.jpg Immaculate Conception Church Ezhupunna1977
Neendakarachurch.jpg St Sebastian's Church Neendakara1977
Shkumbalanghi.jpg Sacred Heart Church Kumbalanghi1994
Kallencherry.jpg St Martin De Porres Church Kallencherry1996
Azheekakam.jpg Holy Maris Church Azhikakam2014
Sanjoskumbalanghi.jpg San Jose Church Ettumkal2014
FIFTH DISTRICT – AROOR FORANE
Aroornewchurch.jpg St Augustine's Church Aroor1901
Eramallorechurch.jpg St Francis Xavier Church Eramallore1843
Kumbalamchurch.jpg St Joseph's Church Kumbalam1977
Arrokuttynew.jpg St Antony's Church Arookutty1978
Vallethodechurch.jpg St Joseph's Church Vallethode1986
Kodamthuruth.jpg Our Lady Of Fatima Church Kodamthuruth
Chandiroornew.jpg St Mary's Church Chandiroor2004
Karunyapuramchurch.jpg St Sebastian's Church Karunyapuram2013
Perumbalamnew.jpg Little Flower Church Perumbalam2013
Stjudeeramallore.jpg St Jude Church Eramallor
Ezhupunnaqueen.jpg Queen Of Peace Church Ezhupunna2024
SIXTH DISTRICT – THANKEY FORANE
Thankeychurchnew.jpg St Mary's Forane Church Thankey1832
Poomkavuchurch.jpg Our Lady Of Assumption Church Poomkavu1860
Arthumkalchurch.jpg St George Church Arthumkal1866
Vayalarchurch.jpg St Francis Xavier Church Vayalar1936
Areeparambunew.jpg St Sebastian's Church Areeparambu2016
Arasupuarm.jpg St George Church Arasupuram2017
Pathirapally.jpg 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]

Pilgrim and Novena Centers

PILGRIM AND NOVENA CENTERS
IMAGENAME OF THE CHURCHVENERATIONLOCATION
Kuriachan.jpg HOLY CROSS PILGRIM CENTER (COONAN KURISU) MATTANCHERRYHOLY CROSS
Maruvakad.jpg OUR LADY OF VELANKANNI SHRINE,MARUVAKAD, CHELLANAMOUR LADY OF HEALTH
Kannamalyshrine.jpg ST JOSEPH'S MIRACULOUS SHRINE KANNAMALYST JOSEPH
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin
Stsebastinedakochu.jpg ST SEBASTIAN'S CHURCH EDACOCHIN,TOMB OF SERVANT OF GOD MSGR.LAWRENCE PULIYANATHMSGR.LAWRENCE PULIYANATH

(Servant Of God)

Saints and causes for canonisation

Education

The Diocese of Cochin preceded jurisdiction expanding from Cananore to Cape Comorin and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on the west Coast and the entire India East coast including Burma. The first bishop of Cochin was Dom George Temudo (1557–1567). He encroached the support of Raja of Cochin in order to sail for the establishment of educational institutions. Joseph Kureethara, the 33rd Bishop consecrated on 21 December 1975, started to form a Corporate Educational Agency for the Diocese of Cochin inline with the Kerala Educational Acts and Rules. On April 11 1979 Kureethara after sending orders, began the Corporate Educational Agency which started functioning from 1 April 1981. [8]

See also

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References

Notes

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

Citations

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.