Roman Catholic Diocese of Mannar

Last updated
Diocese of Mannar

Dioecesis Mannarensis

மன்னார் மறைமாவட்டம
Location
Country Sri Lanka
Ecclesiastical province Colombo
Metropolitan Colombo
Statistics
Area3,998 km2 (1,544 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2013)
270,375
89,516 (33.1%)
Parishes34
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established24 January 1981
Cathedral St Sebastian’s Cathedral in Mannar
Patron saintOur Lady of Madhu
Secular priests 87
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Fidelis Fernando
Metropolitan Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith
Vicar GeneralVictor Sosai Anthony

The Diocese of Mannar (Latin : Dioecesis Mannarensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese for north-western Sri Lanka, administered by the Bishop of Mannar, currently Fidelis Fernando. [1]

Contents

History

The Diocese of Mannar was created on 24 January 1981 from parts of the Diocese of Jaffna. [2] Between 14 January 2016 and 22 November 2017, the position of Bishop remained vacant, the diocese being overseen by Apostolic Administrator and retired Bishop Kingsley Swampillai. [1]

See also

Bishops

#BishopTook officeLeft office
1st Thomas Savundaranayagam 19811992
2nd Rayappu Joseph 19922016
- Kingsley Swampillai
(as Apostolic Administrator)
20162017
3rd Fidelis Fernando 2017

Notable Churches

  1. Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu
  2. St. Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar
  3. St.Antony’s Church, Nedunkandal
  4. Our lady of Refuge Church, Ithikandal
  5. Our lady of Velankani Church, Thamari Kulam, Adampan
  6. St.Philip Neto’s Church, Kannady
  7. The Sacred Heart Church, Adampan
  8. Our lady of Sorrows Church, Adampan
  9. Karthar Kovil, Adampan
  10. St. Joseph Church, Andankulam
  11. St.Michel’s Church, Tharavankoddai
  12. St.Joseph Vazz Church, Kallikulam
  13. St. Francis Xavier Shrine, Velankulam
  14. St.Lawrence Church, Thalimanar
  15. Holy Rosary Church, Thalaimannar
  16. Christ the King Church, Santhapuram
  17. St.Anne’s Church, Sinnakadai

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Jaffna</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Sri Lanka

The Diocese of Jaffna is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in northern Sri Lanka. Latin Catholicism in the diocese's territory date to the time of St. Francis Xavier. The current bishop is Justin Gnanapragasam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Bastian</span> Sri Lankan Tamil priest

Mary Bastian was a Sri Lankan Tamil human rights activist and Catholic priest. He was shot and killed along with 10 other civilians on January 6, 1985, during the Sri Lankan Civil War, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton</span> Catholic diocese in England

The Diocese of Northampton is one of the 22 Roman Catholic dioceses in England and Wales and a Latin Rite suffragan diocese of Westminster. Its see is in Northampton. The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate and St Thomas of Canterbury is the mother church of the Diocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese in Sri Lanka

The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Colombo is a Latin Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church, whose ecclesiastical province covers all Sri Lanka plus the Maldives. It depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

The Pesalai church attack occurred on June 17, 2006 when armed gunmen shot at houses as well as Our lady of heart church in Pesalai, a village in Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. Six civilians were killed and at least 47 were injured in the attack. The eyewitness accused the governmental troops for this attack. The Sri Lankan Navy has denied this and has counter accused the rebel LTTE as being the responsible party. Government of Sri Lanka instituted an investigation into this incident and has identified the responsible party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vankalai</span> Village in Sri Lanka

Vankalai or Vangalai or Vangkaalai is a predominantly fishing and farming village situated in Mannar District of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It lies along the Naanaattan Road with the sea on its west connecting to the Indian Ocean. The shores from Vankalai 20 km south to the ancient Tamil subsidiary port of Kudiramalai formed the world's most famous pearl fishing banks in the classical and medieval periods. Its northern boundary is the historic Hindu shrine of Thiru Ketheeswaram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga</span> Roman Catholic diocese in the Philippines

The Diocese of Balanga is one of the 72 dioceses of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. It was established on March 17, 1975, by Pope Paul VI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu</span> Our Lady Of Madhu

The Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With a history of more than 400 years, the shrine acts as a center of pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics. The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island and is a well known place of devotion for both Tamil and Sinhalese Catholics. The church has been a symbol of unity not just between Tamils and Sinhalese but also between people of different religions, including Buddhists, Hindus and Protestants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhu school bus bombing</span> Bombing in Mannar, Sri Lanka

The Madhu School bus bombing, also known as Thadchanamadhu claymore attack, was the bombing of a school bus carried out on January 29, 2008 in rebel LTTE controlled area in Thadchanamadhu in Mannar, Northern province of Sri Lanka. The bombing killed 17 Tamils, including 11 school children, and injured at least 14 more people. The LTTE and NESHOR accused the Sri Lankan Army ’s deep penetration unit for the attack but the Army denied the allegations. This attack was the second attack on a civilian bus in the month of January in Sri Lanka

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin is a unit of the Catholic Church in the city of Tuticorin, part of the Ecclesiastical province of Madurai in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Kerala, India

The Diocese of Cochin is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church in the city of Cochin, India. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Verapoly. The diocese serves Latin Catholics of Malabar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannar, Sri Lanka</span> Town in Sri Lanka

Mannar is the main town of Mannar District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by an Urban Council. The town is located on Mannar Island overlooking the Gulf of Mannar and is home to the historic Ketheeswaram temple. In the Tamil language, Mannar means the raised place [of sand] which is though to have come from the geology of Mannar Island which was formed by the accumulation of sand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Savundaranayagam</span>

Right Reverend Emmanuel Thomas Savundaranayagam is a Sri Lankan Tamil priest and former Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhu church shelling</span> Church massacre of the Sri Lankan Civil War

Madhu church shelling or Madhu church massacre is the name for the shelling of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in Sri Lanka during the Sri Lankan civil war on November 20, 1999. The shelling resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 minority Sri Lankan Tamil civilians, including children, and more than 60 non-fatal injuries. The exact cause and nature of the event is disputed between the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government. According to Bishop Rayappu Joseph, the attack was carried out by the LTTE. The church is a Roman Catholic Marian shrine in Mannar district of Sri Lanka. With a history of over 400 years, this shrine acts as a center for pilgrimage and worship for Sri Lankan Catholics and others. The site is considered as the holiest Catholic shrine in the island.

Frank Marcus Fernando was the Sri Lankan bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chilaw in Sri Lanka. Fernando served as the Bishop of Chilaw from his appointment on December 27, 1972, until his retirement on October 19, 2006. The diocese is based in Chilaw, a coastal city north of Colombo. Frank Marcus Fernando was born in 1931. He was officially ordained a Catholic priest in Rome, Italy.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph was a Sri Lanka Tamil prelate and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Batticaloa</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Sri Lanka

The Diocese of Batticaloa is a Roman Catholic diocese for south-eastern Sri Lanka. The current bishop is Joseph Ponniah.

Right Reverend Dr. Joseph Kingsley Swampillai is a Sri Lankan Tamil priest and former Roman Catholic Bishop of Trincomalee.

Right Reverend Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando is a Sri Lankan priest and current Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar. He is the first Bishop appointed from among the Bharatha community of Sri Lanka.

Sampathawaduge Maxwell Grenville Silva was born on September 27, 1953 in Willorawatte, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Presently he is serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sri Lanka: Bp. Fidelis L. E. Fernando new Bishop of Mannar". en.radiovaticana.va. Vatican Radio. 22 Nov 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Diocese of Mannar". GCatholic.

Coordinates: 8°58′47″N79°54′27″E / 8.9797°N 79.9074°E / 8.9797; 79.9074