Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palghat
The Eparchy of Palghat is a diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, centred on the town of Palakkad in the state of Kerala, in South India. It is a suffragan bishopric of the Archdiocese of Trichur. The current bishop is Jacob Manathodath, who succeeded Joseph Irimpen in 1997.
The Eparchy of Palghat was erected on June 20, 1974, through the Decree "Apostolico Requirente" by Pope Paul VI, bifurcating the eparchy of Trichur and adding into the territory of the new eparchy a few parishes of the eparchy of Tellichery, which were in the district of Palakkad. It was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. The eparchy was inaugurated on September 8, 1974. The episcopal ordination of Msgr. Joseph Irimpen and his assumption of office as the first bishop of the eparchy took place on the same day. It is now a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Trichur. The eparchy covers an area of 28515 km2 and it comprises the civil district of Palakkad in Kerala and the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Karur and Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. At the time of the inauguration of the Eparchy it had a total of 16 parishes and 8 stations. The number of diocesan priests was 14 and that of the adherents was 20810. It has now 69057 adherents, 127 priests incarnated to it and 99 parishes and 45 stations. Bishop Irimpen retired from his office on December 6, 1994 and died on August 23, 1997. Msgr. Joseph Veliyathil served the Eparchy as its Administrator from December 6, 1994 to February 1, 1997. Pope John Paul II nominated Bishop Jacob Manathodath, then the Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly as the Bishop of Palghat on November 11, 1996. Bishop Manathodath took canonical possession of the eparchy on February 1, 1997.
The diocese of Palghat was bifurcated and a new diocese, named Ramanathapuram, was erected on 18 January 2010.
Mar Jacob Manathodath was born on 22nd February 1947 at Kodamthuruthu as the eldest son of Kurian and Kathreena. He has one brother and five sisters. Jacob had his primary education in the L.P. School, Kodamthuruth and High School studies in the E.C.E.K. Union High School, Kuthiathode. After S.S.L.C. he joinedemblem the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Ernakulam. Two years later he was sent to the Papal Seminary, Pune, where he took Licentiate in Philosophy and Master’s Degree in Theology. He was ordained priest on 4th November 1972. In 1979 Fr. Jacob was sent to Rome for higher studies. He took Doctorate in Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome. After ordination, Fr. Jacob was first appointed Assistant Vicar of St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam and then Private Secretary to the late Mar Joseph Cardinal Parecattil. After his return from Rome in 1984, he served the Archdiocese of Ernakulam in various capacities, as Archdiocesan Secretary, Secretary to Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara, Promoter of Justice and Defender of Bond at the Archdiocesan Tribunal, Chancellor, Parish Priest at Elamakara and Chempu, Eparchial Consultor, Executive Secretary of Save A Family Plan (India) and the Editor of “Ernakulam Missam”. In 1990 he was appointed Professor at St. Joseph?s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva. On 6th September 1992 he was nominated titular bishop of Abydus and bishop auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. He was ordained bishop on 28th November 1992 and appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Palghat on 11th November 1996. He took canonical possession of the Eparchy on February 1, 1997.
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