Madurai (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Antonysamy Savarimuthu, Apostolic Administrator
Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 19 September 1953
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 8,010 (3,093 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://archdioceseofmadurai.com
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Curia, Kosakulam Pudur, Madurai-625007, Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (0452)2566.198
Fax: 2566.630

Historical Details

Diocese of Madura
- Latin Name: Madurensis
- Erected: 8 January 1938
- Country: India
Diocese of Madurai
- Latin Name: Madhuraiensis
- Name Changed: 21 October 1950
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bombay
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean Pierre Leonard, S.J. † (8 Jan 1938 Appointed - 13 Apr 1967 Retired)
Justin Diraviam † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 3 Dec 1984 Retired)
Casimir Gnanadickam, S.J. † (3 Dec 1984 Appointed - 26 Jan 1987 Appointed, Archbishop of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))
Marianus Arokiasamy † (3 Jul 1987 Appointed - 22 Mar 2003 Retired)
Peter Fernando † (22 Mar 2003 Appointed - 26 Jul 2014 Retired)
Antony Pappusamy (26 Jul 2014 Appointed - 4 Nov 2024 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Madura
8 January 1938	Erected	Diocese of Trichinopoly (Tinnevelly, part of Travancore (East of the Ghats), and Ramnad and Madura (except Paini and Dindigul))	Diocese of Madura (erected)
Diocese of Madurai
21 October 1950	Name Changed	Diocese of Madura	Diocese of Madurai
Archdiocese of Madurai
19 September 1953	Elevated	Diocese of Madurai	Archdiocese of Madurai
17 May 1973	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Madurai (Southern Part)	Diocese of Palayamkottai (erected)
3 July 1987	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Madurai (Sivagangai, Tirupathur, Tiruvaddanai, Ramand, Paranakudi, and Mudukulathur along with the island of Rameshwaram)	Diocese of Sivagangai (erected)
10 November 2003	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Madurai (Natham, Kamalapuram, Sinnalapatty, Athur, Karisalpatty, and Vannampatty) Diocese of Tiruchirapalli (Dindigul (Dindigul, Vedasandur, Oddanchatram, Palani, and Natham))	Diocese of Dindigul (erected)

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

Archdiocese of Madurai

1969 253,046 7,115,292 3.6% 99 86 185 1,367 226 853 84 ap1971

1980 242,500 4,994,850 4.9% 83 99 182 1,332 224 950 73 ap1981

1990 137,592 3,172,625 4.3% 65 101 166 828 226 908 52 ap1991

1999 297,032 5,793,954 5.1% 75 99 174 1,707 239 785 60 ap2000

2000 299,428 6,395,244 4.7% 77 114 191 1,567 269 821 62 ap2001

2001 300,244 5,889,320 5.1% 80 104 184 1,631 227 795 64 ap2002

2002 304,142 5,954,858 5.1% 76 112 188 1,617 186 866 65 ap2003

2003 308,450 5,997,860 5.1% 82 106 188 1,640 256 852 65 ap2004

2004 170,000 5,495,800 3.1% 78 120 198 858 313 989 59 ap2005

2013 115,166 6,170,000 1.9% 98 152 250 460 398 1,097 69 ap2014

2016 250,000 6,413,000 3.9% 98 153 251 996 403 1,100 69 ap2017

2019 269,920 6,744,177 4.0% 93 185 278 970 417 1,117 75 ap2020

2021 269,670 6,943,000 3.9% 94 196 290 929 330 1,194 79 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Madurai
1969	253,046	7,115,292	3.6%	99	86	185	1,367	226	853	84	ap1971
1980	242,500	4,994,850	4.9%	83	99	182	1,332	224	950	73	ap1981
1990	137,592	3,172,625	4.3%	65	101	166	828	226	908	52	ap1991
1999	297,032	5,793,954	5.1%	75	99	174	1,707	239	785	60	ap2000
2000	299,428	6,395,244	4.7%	77	114	191	1,567	269	821	62	ap2001
2001	300,244	5,889,320	5.1%	80	104	184	1,631	227	795	64	ap2002
2002	304,142	5,954,858	5.1%	76	112	188	1,617	186	866	65	ap2003
2003	308,450	5,997,860	5.1%	82	106	188	1,640	256	852	65	ap2004
2004	170,000	5,495,800	3.1%	78	120	198	858	313	989	59	ap2005
2013	115,166	6,170,000	1.9%	98	152	250	460	398	1,097	69	ap2014
2016	250,000	6,413,000	3.9%	98	153	251	996	403	1,100	69	ap2017
2019	269,920	6,744,177	4.0%	93	185	278	970	417	1,117	75	ap2020
2021	269,670	6,943,000	3.9%	94	196	290	929	330	1,194	79	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Marianus Arokiasamy † (Archbishop: 3 Jul 1987 to 22 Mar 2003)
Justin Diraviam † (Archbishop: 13 Apr 1967 to 3 Dec 1984)
Peter Fernando † (Archbishop: 22 Mar 2003 to 26 Jul 2014)
Casimir Gnanadickam, S.J. † (Archbishop: 3 Dec 1984 to 26 Jan 1987)
Jean Pierre Leonard, S.J. † (Bishop: 8 Jan 1938; Archbishop: 19 Sep 1953 to 13 Apr 1967)

Source(s)

Diocese of Madura
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 30, Page 192, to Page 194
Diocese of Madurai
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 127
Archdiocese of Madurai
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 83, to Page 87

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Archdiocese of Madurai

Archidioecesis Madhuraiensis