Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai

Roman Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India

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Diocese of Sivagangai

Dioecesis Sivagangaiensis

சிவகங்கை மறைமாவட்டம்

Alangara Annai Cathedral, Sivagangai.

Location
Country| India
Ecclesiastical province| Madurai
Metropolitan| Madurai
Coordinates| 9°50′48″N 78°28′45″E﻿ / ﻿9.8468°N 78.4792°E﻿ / 9.8468; 78.4792
Statistics
Area| 8,353 km2 (3,225 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics| (as of 2004)
2,479,560
225,548 (9.1%)
Information
Rite| Latin Rite
Established| 3 July 1987
Cathedral| Alangara Annai Cathedral in Sivaganga
Patron saint| St John de Brito
Current leadership
Pope| Francis
Bishop| Msgr. Lourdu Anandam
Metropolitan Archbishop| Anthony Pappusamy
Apostolic Administrator| Most Rev Dr Stephen Antony Pillai
Bishops emeritus| 1\. Rev Dr Edward Francis  (1987-2005) 2\. Rev Dr Jebamalai Susaimanickam  (1 April 2005-25 September 2020)
Website
https://rcdioceseofsivagangai.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai is located at the southeast corner of Bay of Bengal, 45 km east of Madurai city, in Tamil Nadu, India.

## History[edit]

Alangara Annai Cathedral

It was established on July 25, 1987, bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Madurai. The Most Rev. S. Edward Francis was the First Bishop of the new Diocese and Bp. Jebamalai Susaimanickam succeeded him as the second bishop.

The territory of the diocese includes two civil districts Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai. The total population of the area is 2,502,340 of which the Catholic population is 177,868 (8.1%) and still growing. 20 years after the diocese has 62 parish centers, 734 mission stations about 107 diocesan clergy, 19 religious order priests and over 350 religious men and women serving at various religious and educational institutions in the diocesan region.

Bell tower and Flag post

## Saints and causes for canonisation[edit]

* St. John de Britto (1693), the patron saint of the diocese, entered the region as a Jesuit missionary from Europe and became the bedrock of faith for thousands of people. He was beheaded at Oriyur on Feb 4, 1693 by a regional king for preaching about Jesus Christ and establishing churches.[1]
* Servant of God Fr. Louis Marie Leveil, SJ[2]
* Servant of God Fr. Antonio Pietro Criminali[3][4]

## Bishops[edit]

The Right Rev. Jebamalai Susaimanickam

Installed| 1 April2005
Term ended| 25 September 2020
Predecessor| The Most Rev.Edward Francis
Successor| Bishop-elect Msgr. Lourdu Anandam

First bishop was Edward Francis.

Second bishop was Rev Dr Jebamalai Susaimanickam.

Bishop-elect Msgr. Lourdu Anandam from the clergy of Madurai Archdiocese will be the third bishop of the diocese.

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Oriyur - John de britto shrine - Arulanandar Church Oriyur". Retrieved 26 February 2020.
2. ^ "Saints & Blessed – CCBI". Retrieved 17 October 2019.
3. ^ Papaluca, SJ, Michele (January 2017). «Pacificar y poner en concordia». Un modello di riconciliazione nella primitiva Compagnia di Gesù (1539-1575) (PDF) (Licenciatura en Teología Espiritual thesis).
4. ^ "Other Pre-19th Cent. Causes". newsaints.faithweb.com. Retrieved 19 April 2023.

* http://www.santhrex.com[permanent dead link]
* "Sivagangai (Latin (or Roman) Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org.

## External links[edit]

* http://www.bibleintamil.com
* http://www.tamilchristianweb.com
* http://www.unnaithedi.com Archived 9 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
* http://www.loveandcaremission.org/
* http://www.manavai.com

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