Roman Catholic Diocese of Mysore

Diocese of Mysore Diœcesis Mysuriensis ಮೈಸೂರು ಧರ್ಮಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ
Location
Country	India
Ecclesiastical province	Bangalore
Metropolitan	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangalore
Headquarters	Mysore
Statistics
Area	21,051 km2 (8,128 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2022) 16,285,570 117,790 (0.7%)
Parishes	80
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Cathedral of St Philomena in Mysore
Patron saint	Saint Joseph
Language	Kannada, English, Tamil, Telugu, Konkani
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Francis Serrao
Metropolitan Archbishop	Peter Machado
Bishops emeritus	Thomas Antony Vazhapilly Kannikadass William Antony
Map

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mysore (Latin : Mysurien(sis)) is a suffragan Latin diocese, in the ecclesiastical province of Bangalore in southern India. Its cathedral episcopal see is St. Philomena's Cathedral in the city of Mysore in Karnataka.

Statistics

As per 2022, it pastorally served 117,790 Catholics (0.7% of 16,285,570 total) on 21,051 km² in 80 parishes with 216 priests (118 diocesan, 98 religious), 1,224 lay religious (263 brothers, 872 sisters) and 22 seminarians. ^[1]

History

• Established on 16 March 1845 as a Pro-Vicariate of Mysore - Bangalore, ^[2] on territory split off (depending on the source) either from the Apostolic Vicariate of Pondicherry or from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Madura and Coromandel Coast (now Diocese of Tiruchirapalli)
• Promoted on 3 April 1850 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Mysore - Bangalore
• Promoted on 1 September 1886 as Diocese of Mysore - Bangalore in the Ecclesiastical Metropolitan Province of Pondicherry
• Lost territories repeatedly : on 12 June 1923 to establish Diocese of Calicut, on 26 May 1930 to establish Diocese of Salem, on 13 February 1940 to establish Diocese of Bangalore, on 3 July 1955 to establish Diocese of Ootacamund and on 16 November 1963 to establish Diocese of Chikmagalur.

Leadership

Until 1963, all European members of Latin rite missionary congregations ^[1]

Apostolic Vicars of Mysore

• Étienne-Louis Charbonnaux, Paris Foreign Missions Society (M.E.P.) (born France) (3 April 1850 – death 23 June 1873), Titular Bishop of Iassus (8 July 1844 – 23 June 1873), previously as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Verapoly (India) (8 July 1844 – 3 April 1850)
• Joseph-Auguste Chevalier, M.E.P. (born France) (11 November 1873 – death 25 March 1880), Titular Bishop of Germanicopolis (11 November 1873 – 25 March 1880)
• Jean-Yves-Marie Coadou, M.E.P. (born France) (20 August 1880 – 25 November 1886 see below), Titular Bishop of Chrysopolis in Arabia (20 August 1880 – 1 September 1886)

Suffragan Bishops of Mysore

• Jean-Yves-Marie Coadou, M.E.P. (see above 25 November 1886 – death 14 September 1890)
• Eugène-Louis Kleiner, M.E.P. (born France) (14 September 1890 – retired 2 June 1910), succeeding as former Titular Bishop of Lyrba (20 June 1890 – 14 September 1890) as Coadjutor Bishop of Mysore (20 June 1890 – 14 September 1890); on emeritate Titular Bishop of Tlous (17 June 1910 – death 19 August 1915)
• Augustin-François Baslé, M.E.P. (born France) (2 June 1910 – death 13 September 1915), succeeding as former Titular Bishop of Calynda (15 December 1905 – 2 June 1910) as Coadjutor Bishop of Mysore (15 December 1905 – 2 June 1910)
• Hippolyte Teissier, M.E.P. (born France) (4 September 1916 – death 26 February 1922)
• Maurice-Bernard-Benoit-Joseph Despatures, M.E.P. (born France) (21 June 1922 – 13 February 1940); next Bishop of Bangalore (India) (13 February 1940 – 6 September 1942), emeritate as Titular Bishop of Benda (6 September 1942 – death 26 August 1963)
• René-Jean-Baptiste-Germain Feuga, M.E.P. (born France) (3 April 1941 – retired 20 November 1962), stayed on as Apostolic Administrator 20 November 1962 – 16 November 1963) while on emeritates as Titular Bishop of Fornos major (20 November 1962 – death 27 January 1964)
• Sebastião Francisco Mathias Fernandes (first native incumbent) (16 November 1963 – death 9 May 1985)
• Francis Michaelappa (from 22 December 1986 until his death on 17 March 1993)
• Joseph Roy (19 December 1994 – retired 12 February 2003); died 2014
• Thomas Antony Vazhapilly (12 February 2003 – retired 25 January 2017)
• Kannikadass William Antony (25 January 2017; suspended on 7 January 2023, resigned 13 January 2024) ^[3]
• Francis Serrao (15 August 2025 ^[4] –)

References

1. "Diocese of Mysore, India".
2. "Apostolic Nunciature, India & Nepal".
3. Kumar, T R Sathish (7 January 2023). "Apostolic administrator for Diocese of Mysore takes charge". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
4. "Rinunce e nomine, 15.08.2025" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.

External links

• Mysore Diocese

12°19′15″N76°39′30″E / 12.3208°N 76.6582°E / 12.3208; 76.6582