Trivandrum (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Thomas Jessayyan Netto, Archbishop
Christudas Rajappan, Auxiliary Bishop
Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 3 June 2004
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 686 (264 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.latinarchdiocesetrivandrum.org
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram-695003, Kerala, India
Telephone: (0471)2724.001
Fax: 2725.001

Historical Details

Diocese of Trivandrum
- Latin Name: Trivandrensis Latinorum
- Erected: 1 July 1937
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Verapoly
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Vincent Victor Dereere, O.C.D. † (1 Jul 1937 Appointed - 24 Oct 1966 Retired)
Peter Bernard Pereira † (1 Oct 1966 Succeeded - 13 Jun 1978 Died)
Benedict Jacob Acharuparambil, O.F.M. Cap. † (3 Aug 1979 Appointed - 31 Jan 1991 Resigned)
Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam (31 Jan 1991 Succeeded - 2 Feb 2022 Retired)
Thomas Jessayyan Netto (2 Feb 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Trivandrum
1 July 1937	Erected	Diocese of Quilon (Trivandrum (Neyyantinkara, Nedumangad, Trivandrum, and Chirayinkeezh))	Diocese of Trivandrum (erected)
20 May 1955	Territory Added	Diocese of Cochin	Diocese of Trivandrum
14 June 1996	Territory Lost	Diocese of Trivandrum (Nedumangad and Neyyattinkara except for Padroad)	Diocese of Neyyattinkara (erected)
Archdiocese of Trivandrum
3 June 2004	Elevated	Diocese of Trivandrum	Archdiocese of Trivandrum

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 Trivandrum

1950 124,385 1,036,659 12.0% 30 14 44 2,826 26 85 153 ap1951

1969 325,000 2,251,273 14.4% 87 32 119 2,731 77 260 73 ap1971

1980 375,250 2,358,800 15.9% 95 53 148 2,535 95 548 101 ap1981

1990 400,000 2,752,000 14.5% 102 60 162 2,469 105 565 109 ap1991

1999 203,262 1,784,867 11.4% 82 80 162 1,254 123 520 64 ap2000

2000 207,262 1,882,867 11.0% 83 88 171 1,212 126 540 65 ap2001

2001 218,212 2,037,817 10.7% 84 87 171 1,276 132 570 65 ap2002

2002 219,212 2,040,317 10.7% 83 96 179 1,224 151 646 65 ap2003

2003 231,244 1,852,482 12.5% 87 88 175 1,321 127 670 68 ap2004

Archdiocese of Trivandrum

2004 236,894 1,857,112 12.8% 92 79 171 1,385 123 520 68 ap2005

2010 244,488 2,251,800 10.9% 109 102 211 1,158 285 680 78 ap2011

2014 261,220 2,368,000 11.0% 112 120 232 1,125 203 688 85 ap2015

2017 254,397 2,459,650 10.3% 123 119 242 1,051 207 681 86 ap2018

2020 297,121 2,543,100 11.7% 150 129 279 1,064 267 688 90 ap2021

2022 303,000 2,594,000 11.7% 159 143 302 1,003 271 708 90 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Trivandrum
1950	124,385	1,036,659	12.0%	30	14	44	2,826	26	85	153	ap1951
1969	325,000	2,251,273	14.4%	87	32	119	2,731	77	260	73	ap1971
1980	375,250	2,358,800	15.9%	95	53	148	2,535	95	548	101	ap1981
1990	400,000	2,752,000	14.5%	102	60	162	2,469	105	565	109	ap1991
1999	203,262	1,784,867	11.4%	82	80	162	1,254	123	520	64	ap2000
2000	207,262	1,882,867	11.0%	83	88	171	1,212	126	540	65	ap2001
2001	218,212	2,037,817	10.7%	84	87	171	1,276	132	570	65	ap2002
2002	219,212	2,040,317	10.7%	83	96	179	1,224	151	646	65	ap2003
2003	231,244	1,852,482	12.5%	87	88	175	1,321	127	670	68	ap2004
Archdiocese of Trivandrum
2004	236,894	1,857,112	12.8%	92	79	171	1,385	123	520	68	ap2005
2010	244,488	2,251,800	10.9%	109	102	211	1,158	285	680	78	ap2011
2014	261,220	2,368,000	11.0%	112	120	232	1,125	203	688	85	ap2015
2017	254,397	2,459,650	10.3%	123	119	242	1,051	207	681	86	ap2018
2020	297,121	2,543,100	11.7%	150	129	279	1,064	267	688	90	ap2021
2022	303,000	2,594,000	11.7%	159	143	302	1,003	271	708	90	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Thomas Jessayyan Netto (Priest: 19 Dec 1989; Archbishop: 2 Feb 2022 - )
Selvister Ponnumuthan (Priest: 19 Dec 1981 to 14 Jun 1996)
Christudas Rajappan (Priest: 25 Nov 1998; Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Feb 2016)
Vincent Samuel (Priest: 19 Dec 1975 to 14 Jun 1996)
Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam (Priest: 20 Dec 1969; Coadjutor Bishop: 10 Nov 1989; Bishop: 31 Jan 1991; Archbishop: 17 Jun 2004 to 2 Feb 2022)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Benedict Jacob Acharuparambil, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 3 Aug 1979 to 31 Jan 1991)
Vincent Victor Dereere, O.C.D. † (Bishop: 1 Jul 1937 to 24 Oct 1966)
Peter Bernard Pereira † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 May 1955; Coadjutor Bishop: 4 Jul 1961; Bishop: 1 Oct 1966 to 13 Jun 1978)

Source(s)

Diocese of Trivandrum
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 789
Archdiocese of Trivandrum
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 96, Page 621, and Page 622

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Archdiocese of Trivandrum

Archidioecesis Trivandrensis Latinorum