The
Diocese of Tuticorin comprises of the major part of the Tuticorin district,
nearly half of the Nellai district and a small portion of the
Kanyakumari district. The Catholics of this area trace their origin to
the time of St. Francis Xavier who spent most of his missionary life
in this area.
Separated from the
diocese of Tiruchirapalli, Tuticorin was created a diocese and entrusted
to the diocesan clergy in 1923
by the Apostolic
Brief "Quae Catholico Nomini" of Pope Pius XI. It was entrusted
to the indigenous clergy with Rt. Rev. Francis Tiburtius Roche, sj, as
it's first Bishop. He was also the first Indian Bishop of the Latin Rite.
On April 4, 1930
the five parishes of Kooduthalai, Manapad, (Holy Ghost Church), Punnaikayal,
Tuticorin (Our Lady of Snows Church)
and Vaippar
which were till then under the Padroado, were amalgamated into the diocese
by virtue of the Papal Bull "Quae ad Spirituale" of Pope Pius
XI.
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