Dioceses of India
Total: 1
Punalur

Diocese of Punalur

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Rite: Latin
Region : Kerala
Patron: St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
Founded: 21 December 1985
Province: Trivandrum-Latin
Status: Diocese
Total area: 4705 Sq.km
Total Population : 28,33,282
Catholics Total: 30,000
Diocesan Priests: 53
Religious Priests: 07
Religious Sisters: 185
Minor Seminarians: 18
Major Seminarians: 16

Diocese of Punalur at a Glance

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Parishes & Substations : 103Retreat Centres: 0
Major Seminaries : 0Diocesan Minor Seminaries: 01
Congregation Minor Seminaries: 02Religious Formation Houses : 12
Men Religious Houses: 0Women Religious Houses: 39

Charitable Institutions

Hospitals : 03Dispensaries / Clinics / Health Centres: 03
Orphanages : 01Homes for Aged & Destitute : 01
Schools for Physically Challenged: 01Homes for Physically Challenged : 0
Crèches: 0Boarding Houses : 04
Counselling Centres : 0De-addiction Centre: 01
Social Centres : 03HIV / AIDS Centre: 0

Educational Institutions

Professional Colleges : 0Degree Colleges: 0
Parallel Colleges : 0Vocational / Technical Training Centres : 08
Higher Secondary / Junior Colleges : 01High Schools : 03
Upper Primary Schools: 04Lower Primary Schools:08
Nurseries / Pre-Primary Schools :22Presses & Media Centres : 0

History

Punalur was separated from the Diocese of Quilon and created into a separate unit by the Bull “Verba Christ” of Pope John Paul II, issued on December 21, 1985. 
  
Belgian Carmelite Fathers were the First Fathers of Punalur and of places around Punalur. During the second world war the First Fathers had to go back, entrusting the Church work to the Diocesan clergy. 
 
Bp Mathias Kappil is the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Punalur.
 
The Diocese of Punalur comprises the entire civil district of Pathanamthitta, taluks of Kottarakara, and Kunnathur, Mavelikara, and several pakuthies of the taluks of Karunagappally and Chengannur.  

Former Bishops

NameDesignationPeriod
Most Rev. Mathias KappilBishop1986-2005