Dioceses of India
Total: 1
Idukki

Diocese of Idukki

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Rite: Syro-Malabar
Region : Kerala
Patron: Holy Cross
Founded: 09 December 2012
Province: Ernakulam-Angamaly
Status: Diocese
Total area: 3000Sq.km
Total Population : 7,97,800
Catholics Total: 261480
Diocesan Priests: 118
Religious Priests: 49
Religious Sisters: 862
Minor Seminarians: 52
Major Seminarians: 82

Diocese of Idukki at a Glance

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Parishes & Substations : 149Retreat Centres: 01
Major Seminaries : 0Diocesan Minor Seminaries: 01
Congregation Minor Seminaries: 0Religious Formation Houses : 0
Men Religious Houses: 19Women Religious Houses: 138

Charitable Institutions

Hospitals : 05Dispensaries / Clinics / Health Centres: 15
Orphanages : 0Homes for Aged & Destitute : 04
Schools for Physically Challenged: 0Homes for Physically Challenged : 0
Crèches: 0Boarding Houses : 0
Counselling Centres : 0De-addiction Centre: 0
Social Centres : 0HIV / AIDS Centre: 0

Educational Institutions

Professional Colleges : 01Degree Colleges: 01
Parallel Colleges : 0Vocational / Technical Training Centres : 03
Higher Secondary / Junior Colleges : 06High Schools : 17
Upper Primary Schools: 19Lower Primary Schools:23
Nurseries / Pre-Primary Schools :15Presses & Media Centres : 0

History

The diocese of Idukki is blessed with a vibrant Christian presence. The history of the catholic presence in idukki region is connected with the history of migration and the intense work of the priests and religious from the diocese of Kothamangalam. When the diocese of Kothamangalam was established in 1956 there were only 17 parishes and mission stations in high ranges with occasional presence of priests and Holy Mass. Fr. Zacharias Pittapillil and Fr. Xavier Pulparambil laboured a lot to establish parishes and mission stations in the high ranges. The centre of activity of Fr. Zacharias was Koompanpara and that of Fr. Pulparambil was Nedumkandom. Their contributions were highly remarkable as it was a period where the bare necessities of life in the literal sense were lacking in the high ranges. Lack of travel facilities, inadequacy of medicine, proper food and accommodation facilities in the chilling climate of the high ranges were not obstacles to their zealous work.

Priests who followed their footsteps started schools, dispensaries, and other centers of development. They were the architects of this region. The whole diocese was with the people at the time of the Ayyappancovil-Udumpanchola and Churuli-Keerithodu Eviction. The diocese was in the forefront with relief works in the floods and large-scale landslides which threatened people many a times during the heavy monsoons in the seventies.

In 1963 the high range mission region was divided into four foranes, namely Erattayar, Rajakadu, Vellathooval and Koompanpara. In 1970 Thankamany, Vazhathopu and Parathodu were raised to the status of forane churches and later, Churuli.  The diocese started a vibrant mission of establishing schools to bring the light of education to the children.

The leadership and hardwork of Fr. John Vallamattom as educational secretary of the diocese of Kothamangalam is especially memorable in the development of the high range region.

It was due to the hard work of priests and religious and the faithful in this region that the present structure and style of the region is achieved. In constructing roads and bridges, bringing electricity and other services to the villages, organizing the local public in all fields, the parish priests gave a remarkable leadership. Under the leadership of Bishop Mathew Pothanamuzhi and Bishop George Punnakottil the region has made great progress in all aspects, especially in the field of education .

When the new Diocese of Idukki was erected in 2003 there were 114 parishes and mission stations.

The total number of the Catholic families in the Diocese of Idukki is around 36147. The Catholic families, all the way uphold the traditional catholic customs and practices. Majority of the faithful are deeply religious, God fearing and law abiding. The percentage of Church attendance is above 95% on Sundays. Besides the Catholics of the Syro-Malabar rite there are Latin Catholics and Syro-Malankara Catholics in this region, belonging to the Diocese of Vijayapuram and Thiruvalla respectively. There are Christians of Jacobite and Orthodox Churches besides various protestant denominations.

Former Bishops

Most Rev. MATHEW ANIKUZHIKATTIL
Bishop Emeritus of Idukki
Personal Details
Born:23-Sep-1942
Priestly Ordination:15-Mar-1971
Episcopal Ordination:2-Mar-2003
Period:2018-

Tel(P): 04862 - 230266, 230204,
Email(P): bpanikuzhikattil@gmail.com
Contact Details
Bishop’s House, Karimpan, Manippara P. O., Idukki - 685 602 (Kerala)
Tel(O): 04862-23 02 66, 23 02 04, 23 01 50
Fax : 23 02 04
Email : curiaidukkidiocese@gmail.com