History

The Diocese of Tellicherry, erected by the Bull 'Ad Christi Ecclisiam Regendam' dated December 31, 1953 of His Holiness Pope Pius XII of happy memory, as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam, is for the Catholics of the Syro - Malabar Church who migrated to Malabar region of the erstwhile Travancore and Cochin States. The boundaries of the new diocese were the same as those of the Latin Diocese of Calicut. But later, as Catholics of Syro - Malabar Church migrated even to the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the boundaries were extended to the present Latin Diocese of Mangalore, Chickmangalur, Mysore, Shimoga, and Ootacamund by a decree of the Holy See dated April 29, 1955.

Bifurcations

Mananthawady

1. The diocese was bifurcated and the new diocese of Mananthawady formed on March 1, 1973 by the Papal Bull, "Quanta Gloria Orientales Ecclisiae". The territory of the new diocese extends to the districts of Wyanad, Shimoga, Chickmangalur, Hassan, Mandya, Mysore, and Nilgiris.
2. When the new diocese of Palghat was erected on June 20, 1974, those parishes of Tellicherry which belonged to the district of Palghat were entrusted to the new diocese.
3. Ten parishes of the diocese Tellicherry were handed over to the diocese of Mananthawady on December 31, 1975 by a decree of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches dated December 4, 1975.

Thamarasserry

By the Papal Bull, "Constant Non Mode Eparchiam Tellicherensis" the diocese was again bifurcated on April 28, 1986 and a new diocese of Thamarassery formed comprising the districts if Calicut and Malapuram.

Belthangady

The Archdiocese was bifurcated again on April 24, 1999. By the Papal Bull, "AD Prepetuam rei Memorian" forming the new diocese of Belthangady by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. The diocese of Belthangady extends to the three civil districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uduppi and Kodagu in Karnataka State.

Archdiocese

By the Papal Bull, "Spirituali bono Christfidelium" dated May 18, 1995, Pope John Paul II raised the diocese of Tellicherry to the status of Metropolitan Archdiocese.

Abp GEORGE VALIAMATTAM 
Born: Sep. 16, 1938
Priestly Ordn.: Nov. 30, 1969
Episcopal Ordn.: May 1, 1989

Address:
Archbishop's House,
P.B. No. 70,
Tellicherry - 670 101.
Kerala.
 
Tel: (0490) 34 10 58         
Fax: (0490) 34 10 58          
 
E-mail: diocese@eth.net , diocetly@sancharnet.in
Area: 4,903 sq.kms.
Total population: 36,00,000
Catholics: 2,95,200
Languages spoken: Malayalam and English
Revenue district: Kannur and Kasargod.
 
Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 242
Religious Priests: 65
Religious Brothers: 05
Religious Women: 1,588
No. of Parishes: 141
Houses of Women Religious: 173
Houses of Men Religious: 28
 
Formation Houses
Major Seminary: 01
Minor Seminaries: 06
 
No. of Educational institutions
P. G. Depts. / Colleges: 01
Colleges: 05        
Students: 1,000 (App.)
Technical Institutions: 08 
Sr. Secondary Schools (10+2): 07        
Students: 2,561
High Schools (10th std.): 26        
Students: 15,245
Primary Schools: 75        
Students: 27,050
Hospitals: 06              
Dispensaries: 10
Other Institutions: 11