Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai

Diocese of Sivagangai Dioecesis Sivagangaiensis சிவகங்கை மறைமாவட்ட
Location
Country	India
Ecclesiastical province	Madurai
Metropolitan	Madurai
Statistics
Area	8,353 km2 (3,225 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 2,479,560 225,548 (9.1%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	3 July 1987
Cathedral	Cathedral of Our Lady in Sivaganga
Patron saint	St John de Brito
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Jebalamai Susaimanickam
Metropolitan Archbishop	Peter Fernando
Emeritus Bishops	Edward Francis Bishop Emeritus (1987-2005)

The Right Rev. Jebalamai Susaimanickam
Installed	05-2006
Predecessor	The Most Rev.Edward Francis

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai is located at southeast corner of Bay of Bengal, 45 km east of Madurai city. Tamil Nadu, India.

It was established on July 25, 1987 bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Madurai. The Most Rev. S. Edward Francis was the First Bishop of the new Diocese and Bp. Jebamalai Susaimanickam succeeded him as the second bishop.

The territory of the diocese includes two civil districts Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai. The total population of the area is 2,502,340 of which the Catholic population is 177,868 (8.1%) and still growing. 20 years after the diocese has 62 parish centers, 734 mission stations about 107 diocesan clergy, 19 religious order priests and over 350 religious men and women serving at various religious and educational institutions in the diocesan region.

St. John de Britto (1693), the patron saint of the diocese, entered the region as a Jesuit missionary from Europe and became the bedrock of faith for thousands of people. He was beheaded at Oriyur on Feb 4, 1693 by a regional king for preaching about Jesus Christ and establishing churches.

First bishop was Edward Francis.

Present bishop is Jebalamai Susaimanickam.

Coordinates: 9°50′48″N 78°28′45″E / 9.8468°N 78.4792°E / 9.8468; 78.4792

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Wikipedia