The Mission of Mysore was separated from the Vicariate Apostolic of Pondicherry on March 16, 1845, to become first a pro-Vicariate, and then in 1850 a Vicariate Apostolic entrusted to Msgr Charbonnaux who was, till then, Co-adjutor to the Bishop of Pondicherry.

In 1886, the Vicariate of Mysore was elevated to a Diocese, and its Vicar Apostolic, Msgr Coadou became its First Bishop, residing, however, in Bangalore. Untill 1940, the Diocese of Mysore included the entire districts of Mysore, Coorg and Kollegal, but on February 13, 1940, by the Apostolic Letter "Felicius Increscente" of Pius XII, Bangalore was separated from Mysore and the Bishop of former Mysore Diocese Bp M.B. Despatures became the Bishop of Bangalore, comprising the districts of Bangalore, Kolar, Tumkur and Chitradurga.

The Diocese of Mysore (as distinct from Bangalore) was reconstituted in 1941 with the addition of the Nilgiris district and part of the Coimbatore district.

However 15 years later, on July 3, 1955, by the Apostolic Constitution "Nuntiatur in Psalmis" of Pope Pius XII, these districts of Nilgiris and Coimbatore were again separated from Mysore and erected into Diocese of Ootacamund (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu.

On November 16, 1963, by the Apostolic Constitution "Indicae Regionis Conditio" of Pope Paul VI, three most districts, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, were separated from the Mysore Diocese to form the Diocese of Chikmagalur.

The present Diocese of Mysore comprises the four districts of Mysore, Mandya, Coorg & Chamarajanagara. It is surrounded by the Archdiocese of Bangalore, Diocese of Ooty, Calicut, Mangalore and Chikmagalur.

Bp THOMAS VAZHAPILLY
Born : April 11, 1940
Priestly Ordn.: Dec. 02, 1964
Episcopal Ordn. : Mar. 25, 2003

Address:
Bishop's House,
B.N. Road,
Mysore City-570 001
Karnataka.

Tel: (0821) 24 48 395, 24 43 545
Fax: (0821) 25 65 708
E-mail: bishopmysore@rediffmail.com