Jaffna (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, Bishop
Thomas Emmanuel Savundaranayagam, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 1 September 1886
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Colombo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Sri Lanka
Square Kilometers: 3,910 (1,510 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 2, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Telephone: (021)265.10.99
Fax: 222.99.53

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Jaffna
- Latin Name: Iaffnensis
- Erected: 17 February 1845
- Vicariate
- Country: Sri Lanka

Past and Present Ordinaries

Orazio Bettacchini, C.O. † (28 Aug 1849 Appointed - 26 Jul 1857 Died)
Jean-Étienne Sémeria, O.M.I. † (26 Jul 1857 Succeeded - 23 Jan 1868 Died)
Christophe-Ernest Bonjean, O.M.I. † (24 Jul 1868 Confirmed - 20 Apr 1883 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Colombo)
André-Théophile Mélizan, O.M.I. † (20 Apr 1883 Succeeded - 5 Mar 1893 Appointed, Archbishop of Colombo)
Henri Joulain, O.M.I. † (20 Jul 1893 Appointed - 8 Feb 1919 Died)
Jules-André Brault, O.M.I. † (5 Aug 1919 Appointed - 20 Jan 1923 Died)
Alfred-Jean Guyomard, O.M.I. † (16 Jan 1924 Appointed - 18 Jul 1950 Resigned)
Jerome Emilianus Pillai, O.M.I. † (18 Jul 1950 Succeeded - 17 Jul 1972 Died)
Jacob Bastiampillai Deogupillai † (18 Dec 1972 Appointed - 6 Jul 1992 Retired)
Thomas Emmanuel Savundaranayagam (6 Jul 1992 Appointed - 13 Oct 2015 Retired)
Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam (13 Oct 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Jaffna
17 February 1845	Erected	Diocese of Ceylon	Vicariate Apostolic of Jaffna (erected)
Diocese of Jaffna
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Jaffna	Diocese of Jaffna
25 August 1893	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Colombo Diocese of Jaffna	Diocese of Trincomalee (erected)
19 December 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Jaffna (Anuradhapura District) Diocese of Trincomalee-Batticaloa (Polonnaruwa District)	Prefecture Apostolic of Anuradhapura (erected)
24 January 1981	Territory Lost	Diocese of Jaffna (Mannar and Vavuniya)	Diocese of Mannar (erected)

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

Diocese of Jaffna

1950 63,652 415,335 15.3% 14 76 90 707 123 201 42 ap1951

1970 124,582 1,100,000 11.3% 40 55 95 1,311 82 362 391 ap1971

1980 172,667 994,000 17.4% 57 32 89 1,940 66 344 56 ap1981

1990 156,120 1,000,000 15.6% 53 44 97 1,609 73 354 43 ap1991

1999 155,840 1,064,436 14.6% 75 15 90 1,731 26 190 49 ap2000

2000 157,398 1,064,464 14.8% 79 15 94 1,674 28 195 49 ap2001

2001 159,782 1,093,153 14.6% 84 16 100 1,597 30 193 49 ap2002

2002 161,581 1,093,153 14.8% 87 19 106 1,524 42 193 49 ap2003

2003 163,950 1,359,539 12.1% 80 29 109 1,504 54 191 49 ap2004

2004 166,329 1,625,925 10.2% 91 33 124 1,341 60 201 50 ap2005

2006 163,895 1,406,230 11.7% 98 32 130 1,260 64 212 51 ap2007

2013 240,682 1,493,720 16.1% 97 56 153 1,573 97 227 63 ap2014

2016 251,000 1,533,000 16.4% 108 64 172 1,459 96 251 60 ap2017

2019 259,640 1,585,770 16.4% 117 82 199 1,304 106 243 65 ap2020

2021 263,600 1,612,600 16.3% 116 84 200 1,318 104 319 69 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Jaffna
1950	63,652	415,335	15.3%	14	76	90	707	123	201	42	ap1951
1970	124,582	1,100,000	11.3%	40	55	95	1,311	82	362	391	ap1971
1980	172,667	994,000	17.4%	57	32	89	1,940	66	344	56	ap1981
1990	156,120	1,000,000	15.6%	53	44	97	1,609	73	354	43	ap1991
1999	155,840	1,064,436	14.6%	75	15	90	1,731	26	190	49	ap2000
2000	157,398	1,064,464	14.8%	79	15	94	1,674	28	195	49	ap2001
2001	159,782	1,093,153	14.6%	84	16	100	1,597	30	193	49	ap2002
2002	161,581	1,093,153	14.8%	87	19	106	1,524	42	193	49	ap2003
2003	163,950	1,359,539	12.1%	80	29	109	1,504	54	191	49	ap2004
2004	166,329	1,625,925	10.2%	91	33	124	1,341	60	201	50	ap2005
2006	163,895	1,406,230	11.7%	98	32	130	1,260	64	212	51	ap2007
2013	240,682	1,493,720	16.1%	97	56	153	1,573	97	227	63	ap2014
2016	251,000	1,533,000	16.4%	108	64	172	1,459	96	251	60	ap2017
2019	259,640	1,585,770	16.4%	117	82	199	1,304	106	243	65	ap2020
2021	263,600	1,612,600	16.3%	116	84	200	1,318	104	319	69	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam (Priest: 24 Apr 1974; Bishop: 13 Oct 2015 - )
Anton Ranjith Pillainayagam
Thomas Emmanuel Savundaranayagam (Priest: 21 Dec 1963 to 24 Jan 1981; Bishop: 6 Jul 1992 to 13 Oct 2015)
Joseph Kingsley Swampillai (Priest: 20 Dec 1961 to 17 Mar 1983)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Leo Rajendram Antony † (Priest: 7 Dec 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Aug 1968 to 18 Dec 1972)
Orazio Bettacchini, C.O. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Aug 1849 to 26 Jul 1857)
Christophe-Ernest Bonjean, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Jul 1868 to 20 Apr 1883)
Jules-André Brault, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 5 Aug 1919 to 20 Jan 1923)
Jacob Bastiampillai Deogupillai † (Priest: 22 Dec 1941 to 9 Feb 1967; Bishop: 18 Dec 1972 to 6 Jul 1992)
Alfred-Jean Guyomard, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 16 Jan 1924 to 18 Jul 1950)
Henri Joulain, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 20 Jul 1893 to 8 Feb 1919)
André-Théophile Mélizan, O.M.I. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 8 Aug 1879; Vicar Apostolic: 20 Apr 1883; Bishop: 25 Nov 1886 to 5 Mar 1893)
Jerome Emilianus Pillai, O.M.I. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 10 Mar 1949; Bishop: 18 Jul 1950 to 17 Jul 1972)
Jean-Étienne Sémeria, O.M.I. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 6 Jun 1856; Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jul 1857 to 23 Jan 1868)
Dominic Aloysius Vendargon †