Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin

Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in Kerala, India

Diocese of Cochin

Dioecesis Coccinensis

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica

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″N 76°14′34″E﻿ / ﻿9.964774°N 76.242738°E﻿ / 9.964774; 76.242738
Statistics
Area| 236 km2 (91 sq mi)[1]
Population
- Total
- Catholics| (as of 2021)
625,500[a]
176,680[a] (28.2%)
Parishes| 51[a]
Information
Denomination| Roman Catholic Church
Sui iuris church| Latin Church
Rite| Roman Rite
Established| 4 February 1557; 467 years ago (4 February 1557)
Cathedral| Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Fort Cochin
Patron saint|

* Holy Cross
* St Francis Xavier

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 Vicars| Very Rev Fr Antony Kattiparambil
Judicial Vicar| Very Rev Fr. Antony Kattiparambil[2]
Bishops emeritus|

* Joseph Kariyil
* John Thattumkal

Website
dioceseofcochin.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin (Latin: Dioecesis Coccinensis) is a Roman Catholic Diocese of the Latin Rite in Cochin, Kerala, India. It 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 people of Malabar. It is under the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly.

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

[edit]

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, 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

[edit]

* Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica Fortcochin \- Estd 1505

* Our Lady Of Life Church Mattancherry Estd - (9th Century)

* Our Lady Of Hope Church Vypeen Estd - 1605

## 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 |

* Appointed Archbishop of Goa
* later Patriarch of the East Indies

| 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 | 1952‍-‍1975 | Retired
| Joseph Kureethara | 1975‍-‍1999 | Died in office
| John Thattumkal SSC | 2000‍-‍2009 | Resigned
| Joseph Kariyil | 2009‍-‍2024 | Retired[6]

## 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

* St John De Britto

* St Joseph Vaz

* St Devasahayam

* Venerable Matteo Ricci

* Msgr Lawrence Puliyanath

* 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 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

[edit]

* Catholic Church in India
* List of Catholic dioceses in India
* Territories of Catholic dioceses in India

## 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 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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