Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta

Eastern Catholic eparchy in Kerala, India

Eparchy of Pathanamthitta

Eparchiae Pathanamthitta

പത്തനംതിട്ട രൂപത

Location
Country| India
Ecclesiastical province| Trivandrum
Coordinates| 9°16′53″N 76°47′14″E﻿ / ﻿9.28139°N 76.78722°E﻿ / 9.28139; 76.78722
Statistics
Area| 2,100 km2 (810 sq mi)
Population

* Total

* Catholics

* (as of 2010)

* 1,234,016

* 40,563

Parishes| 100
Members| 37,500[1][2]
Information
Denomination| Catholic Church
Sui iuris church| Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Rite| Malankara Rite
Cathedral| St. Peter’s Malankara Catholic Church, Pathanamthitta
Patron saint| St Peter
Secular priests| 89[1][2]
Current leadership
Pope| Leo XIV
Major Archbishop| Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos
Eparch| Samuel Irenios Kattukallil
Vicar General| Msgr. Varghese Mathew Kalayil Vadakkethil
Bishops emeritus| Yoohanon Chrysostom
Map

Location of Pathanamthitta in Kerala
Website
pathanamthittadiocese.com

The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta is a Syro-Malankara Catholic Church ecclesiastical territory or eparchy of the Catholic Church in Kerala, India. The diocese was created by Pope Benedict XVI on 25 January 2010. Yoohanon Chrysostom became the first eparch. St. Peter’s Malankara Catholic Church in the episcopal see of Pathanamthitta serves as the cathedral church.[3] The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta is a suffragan eparchy in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archeparchy of Trivandrum.

## History

[edit]

The Syro-Malankara Catholics are one of the oldest Saint Thomas Christians centered in Kerala, India. In the 16th century, the Catholics of the Latin Church came in contact with the Indian Christians through the Portuguese merchants and missionaries. But the relationship was fragile and several conflicts evolved among them, which later resulted in the Coonan Cross Oath. The majority of them restored ecclesial relationship with the Portuguese padroado hierarchy through the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, while others formed themselves into an independent ecclesial community as the Malankara Church and gradually established a relationship with the Church of the Antioch. Later, on 20 September 1930, a group headed by Geevarghese Ivanios lead the reunion movement and returned to the Catholic Church. The Metropolitan Eparchy of Trivandrum was inaugurated on 11 May 1933 and Geevarghese Ivanios was installed as its first Metropolitan. To cope up with the tremendous growth of the church the Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum was ramified and a new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta was formed.[4]

## Statistics

[edit]

As of 2021[update], there are 100 parishes in the Diocese and the number of priests incardinated is 120. The diocese has about 80 seminarians pursuing different grades in their priestly formation.The diocese possesses 10,000 families of Catholic faithful in its territory. A bigger part of the malankara global diaspora comes from this diocese. The diocesan area is basically hilly in nature including a considerable number of tribal colonies. The Exarcate of the United States got its first bishop Thomas Eusebius from the Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church in Mylapra the Eparch of Pathanamthitta.[5]

## Curia members

[edit]

Designation | Name

|

Syncellus (Vicar General) | Msgr. Varghese Mathew Kalayil Vadakkethil
Chancellor | Rt. Rev. Sebastian Ambasseril Corepiscopa
Economus (Procurator) | Fr. Abraham (Jinse) Meppurathu
Judicial Vicar  | Fr. Kuriakose Kuthinethu
Rector of Minor Seminary  | Fr. Sijo James Charivuparambil

## The Heads of Various Apostolic Services

[edit]

Designation | Name

|

Rector, Minor Seminary | Fr. Sijo James Charivuparambil
Director, Evangelization  | Fr. Mathew Neriattil
Director, Catechism | Fr. Robin Manackalethu
Spiritual Advisor, Malankara Catholic Association (MCA) | Fr. Abraham Mannil
Director, Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) | Fr. Skariah (Job) Pathalil
Director, Malankara Catholic Mothers' Forum (MCMF)  | Fr. Varghese Chamakalayil
Director, Family Apostolate | Fr. Varghese Thomas Chamakalayil
Director, Bible Apostolate | Fr. Chacko Karippon
Correspondent, Aided Schools | Msgr. Varghese Kalayil Vadakkethil
Correspondent, Unaided Schools | Msgr. Varghese Kalayil Vadakkethil
Director, Legion of Mary | Fr. Anto Kannamkulam
Director, Social Service | Fr. Varghese Chamakalayil
Spiritual Advisor, Vincent De Paul Society | Fr. George Varghese Puthuparambil
Public Relations' Officer | Fr. Joel John Poweth
Director, Upasana Pastoral Centre | Fr. Thomas Cheruthode
Vocation Promoter | Fr. Sijo James Charivuparambil
Director, Dialogue Commission  | Fr. Daniel Bethel
Director, Suvisheshsa Sangam  | Fr. Thomas Nedumankuzhiyil
Director, Jagratha Commission  | Fr. Scott Sleeba Pulimooden

## Parishes

[edit]

Catholic Bishop's House, Pathanamthitta  | Pathanamthitta

|

St. Peter's Cathedral  | Pathanamthitta
Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church | Mylapra
St. Edward Malankara Syrian Catholic Church  | Aranmula
St John's Malankara Syrian Catholic Church Kadammanitta  | Kadammanitta
St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Ponnambu  | Ponnambu
St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Elappupara  | Elappupara
Sacred Heart Malankara Syrian Catholic Church  | Vadakkupuram
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Kumbazha
St.Mary's Kurishumala Church  | Perunad
St Peters Malankara Catholic Church  | Attachakal
St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Konny
St Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Pambumala
St. John Chrysostom Malankara Catholic Church  | Mannarakulanji
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Kumplampoika  | Kumplampoika
St. Antony's Malankara Catholic Church  | Vadasserikkara
St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Vayalathala
St. George Malankara Catholic Church  | Athirumkal
St. Teresa's Catholic Church  | Murinjakal
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Nedumonkavu
St. Georges Malankara Catholic Church  | Vallicode Kottayam
St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Angadical
Syrian Malankara Catholic Church Mezhuveli  | Mezhuveli West
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Kurichimuttam
St. Mary's Catholic Church  | Chandanappally
St.Thomas Syro Malankara Catholic Church  | Amalagiri-Kodumudi
St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Seethathode
Malankara Syrian Catholic Church  | Vayyattupuzha
St George Malankara Syrian Catholic Church  | Thannithode
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Thekkuthode
St.George Malankara Catholic Church  | Manneera
St. Benedict's Malankara Catholic Church  | Kokkathode
St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Valyayanthy  | Valyayanthy
Malankara Catholic Church  | Mekozhoor
St. Joseph Malankara Catholic Church  | Karakkad
St.Thomas Malankara Catholic Church  | Puthenpeedika
St Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Mapilaly  | Thumpamon
St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Erathumpamon  | Erathumpamon
St. Benedict's Malanakara Catholic Church, Konnithazham  | Konnithazham
Malankara Catholic Church, Carmala  | Carmala
MCC, Puthukkulam  | Puthukkulam
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Athumpumkulam  | Athumpumkulam
St. Sebastian's Malankara Catholic Church, Avolikuzhy  | Avolikuzhy
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Chittar  | Chittar
MCC, Pampini  | Pampini
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Moolakkayam
St. Theresa's Malankara Catholic Church, Pampavalli  | Pampavalli
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church  | Anandappally
St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church  | Angamoozhi
Malankara Catholic Church, Anjilikunnu  | Anjilikunnu
St Patrick's Malakara Catholic Church  | Chengara
St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Paranthal  | Paranthal
St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Kallely  | Kallely
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Oottupara  | Oottupara
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Thonikadavu  | Thonikadavu

## Gallery

[edit]

* Inauguration of the Eparchy

* Inauguration of the 'UPASANA' Pastoral Centre, Omalloor

* Ordination of priests held at S H Church, Mylapra

* Yoohanon Chrysostom with Curia Members

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Population Statistics". 13 February 2007., Syro Malankara Church.
2. ^ a b Ronald Roberson. "The Eastern Catholic Churches 2012" (PDF). Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012. Information sourced from Annuario Pontificio 2012 edition.
3. ^ "St. Peter's Malankara Catholic Church, Pathanamthitta".
4. ^ "The History of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta".
5. ^ "Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra".

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
* Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Website

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