Vellore (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ambrose Pitchaimuthu, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 13 November 1952
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor)
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 12,268 (4,738 Square Miles)
Description: Civil Districts of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai
Official Web Site: https://vellorediocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 34 Officers' Line, Vellore-632001, Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (0416)2232.570
Fax: 2226.977

Past and Present Ordinaries

Pablo Mariaselvam, S.D.B. † (4 Feb 1953 Appointed - 25 Jun 1954 Died)
David Maryanayagam Swamidoss Pillat, S.D.B. † (4 Jul 1956 Appointed - 17 Jul 1969 Died)
Royappan Antony Muthu † (23 Nov 1970 Appointed - 19 Dec 1980 Died)
Savarinathan Michael Augustine † (19 Jun 1981 Appointed - 18 Feb 1992 Appointed, Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore)
Malayappan Chinnappa, S.D.B. (17 Nov 1993 Appointed - 1 Apr 2005 Appointed, Archbishop of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))
Soundaraj Periyanayagam, S.D.B. † (11 Jul 2006 Appointed - 21 Mar 2020 Died)
Ambrose Pitchaimuthu (9 Nov 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 November 1952	Erected	Archdiocese of Madras (North Arcot and Chittoor)	Diocese of Vellore (erected)
1 September 1969	Territory Lost	Diocese of Vellore (Tiruttani)	Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor)
1 September 1969	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore (Tiruvannamalai and Chengam)	Diocese of Vellore
20 January 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Vellore (Chitoor, Palmaner, Kuppam, Bangarupalem, and Satyavedu (all of Chitoor))	Diocese of Nellore

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 67,224 3,490,908 1.9% 38 57 95 707 124 218 36 ap1971

1980 93,560 4,500,000 2.1% 63 37 100 935 54 380 51 ap1981

1990 126,180 5,010,680 2.5% 86 44 130 970 129 513 60 ap1991

1998 131,150 5,590,953 2.3% 83 47 130 1,008 77 645 71 ap2002

2002 145,841 6,287,632 2.3% 101 35 136 1,072 65 645 73 ap2003

2003 145,996 8,877,989 1.6% 101 35 136 1,073 55 645 79 ap2004

2004 146,091 8,869,698 1.6% 103 35 138 1,058 55 645 82 ap2005

2010 168,980 10,363,000 1.6% 121 50 171 988 97 666 85 ap2011

2014 174,348 6,401,206 2.7% 128 85 213 818 126 764 84 ap2015

2017 190,000 6,571,250 2.9% 121 92 213 892 134 770 86 ap2018

2020 194,700 6,417,220 3.0% 129 92 221 880 134 880 87 ap2021

2022 195,000 6,467,000 3.0% 131 93 224 870 130 880 89 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	67,224	3,490,908	1.9%	38	57	95	707	124	218	36	ap1971
1980	93,560	4,500,000	2.1%	63	37	100	935	54	380	51	ap1981
1990	126,180	5,010,680	2.5%	86	44	130	970	129	513	60	ap1991
1998	131,150	5,590,953	2.3%	83	47	130	1,008	77	645	71	ap2002
2002	145,841	6,287,632	2.3%	101	35	136	1,072	65	645	73	ap2003
2003	145,996	8,877,989	1.6%	101	35	136	1,073	55	645	79	ap2004
2004	146,091	8,869,698	1.6%	103	35	138	1,058	55	645	82	ap2005
2010	168,980	10,363,000	1.6%	121	50	171	988	97	666	85	ap2011
2014	174,348	6,401,206	2.7%	128	85	213	818	126	764	84	ap2015
2017	190,000	6,571,250	2.9%	121	92	213	892	134	770	86	ap2018
2020	194,700	6,417,220	3.0%	129	92	221	880	134	880	87	ap2021
2022	195,000	6,467,000	3.0%	131	93	224	870	130	880	89	ap2023