History

The present territory of the Archdiocese comprises of the whole of Madurai civil district, Virudhunagar district, Theni district and four taluks - Nilakkottai, Kodaikanal, Batlagundu, Natham and four parishes in Dindigul taluk - of Dindigul district.

The diocese was created on January 8, 1938 by the Bull "Si inter infidels" and its territory was carved out of the former Tiruchirappalli diocese. Then it included the six out of the eight taluks of former Madurai district, the whole of former Ramanathapuram district and five taluks of former Tirunelveli district.

By the Apostolic Constitution "Mutant Res" dated September 19, 1953 the diocese of Madurai was raised to an Archdiocese with Tiruchirappalli, Turticorin and Kottar as suffragans to Madurai.

On September 9, 1973, the taluks of Sankarankoil, Tenkasi, Ambasamudram, Tirunelveli and Kovilpatty were separated from the Archdiocese of Madurai and the Diocese of Palayamkottai was created as a suffragan to Madurai.

On August 30, 1987, the Archdiocese of Madurai give birth to one more Suffragan Diocese i.e. the Diocese of Sivagangai.

Abp PETER FERNANDO 
Born: Mar. 22, 1939
Priestly Ordn: May 29, 1971
Episcopal Ordn: May 29, 1996

Address:
Archbishop's House
Madurai - 625 007
Tamil Nadu.
                                       
Tel: (0452) 25 66 198 (O), 25 66 737 (P)
Fax: (0452) 25 66 630
Mobile: (0452) 31 16 632
E-mail: pb_peterfdo@yahoo.co.in
Website: http://www.maduraiarchdiocese.org/  
 
Total population: 41,94,105
Catholics: 2,62,731
Languages spoken: Tamil, English, Malayalam & Telugu