About US

About US

Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum has its headquarters and the major function in the area called Thiruvananthapuram or Trivnadrum. It is the capital city of Kerala, the southernmost state in India. As far as the boundary is concerned, the Archdiocese is bounded on the north by the Diocese of Quilon, on the east by the Neyyatinkara Diocese, on the west by the Arabian Sea and on the south by the Diocese of Kottar. At present, the Archdiocese of Trivandrum spreads over a total area of 686 sq.kms contained in the civil division named revenue taluks of Chirayinkil and Trivandrum together with the erstwhile Padroado region of Neyyattinkara Taluk in the State of Kerala and a small portion of 8 coastal parishes in the District of Kanyakumari in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.

ARCHDIOCESE OF TRIVANDRUM AT A GLANCE

Erected on : 1st July 1937 

Annexation of Padroado Region : 1952

Erection of Neyyatinkara diocese : 1996

Elevated as  Archdiocese  : 3rd June 2004

Total Area : About 686 sq. km (264 Square Miles)

Language Spoken : Malayalam. Some use Tamil and English

Total Population in the area : 22,14,516

Diocesan Catholics : 2, 66,854

Patron : St. Theresa of the Child Jesus

Archdiocesan Day : October 1

Cathedral Parish : St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Palayam

Community Day : First Sunday of December

Foranes/ Vicariates : 9

Parishes : 93

Quasi Parishes : 24

Mass Centers : 34

Diocesan Priests : 171

Religious Priests : 150

Religious Men Houses : 26

Religious Brothers : 07

Religious Women : 708

Religious Women Houses : 101

Major Seminarians : 63

Minor seminarians : 53

 

1st July 1937 the first ever diocese in India, quilon was bifurcated to erect the Latin Diocese of Trivandrum (Trivandrensis Latinorum) through the Bull 'In Ora Malabarica' of Pope Pius XI. Bishop Vincent Victor Dereere, OCD was appointed as the First Bishop of Trivandrum.

1952- The fifth district of Cochin Diocese, from Pallithura to Eraiyumanthurai was anneed temporarily and on 20th May 1955 permanently to the Trivandrum Diocese.

5th May 1955- Fr. Peter Bernard Pereira was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum.

1958- St. Vincent's Minor Seminary

1960- Trivandrum Social Service Society (TSSS)

1960s- Marianad Project (Programme for Communiy Organization)

4th July 1961- Bishop Peter Bernard Pereira was appointed as the Coadjutor Bishop of Trivandrum.

1962- Vikram Sarabai Space Centre

1964- Msgr. Johny Fernandez, Administrator as both the Bishops Vincent Dereere and Peter B. Pereira were attending the Vatican II

1st Oct 1966- Bishop Peter Bernard Pereira became the Second Bishop of Trivandrum.

1974- Boys Town and Press

8th May 1978 - Msgr. Louis Roche, Administrator on the hospitalization of Bishop Pereira.

14th June 1978- Msgr. Mark Netto was elected as the Adminstrator which got elevated to Vicar Capitular.

7th October 1979- Fr.  Benedict Jacob Acharuparambil O.F.M. Cap. became the third bishop of Trivandrum.

1981- Bishop Periera Hall, Nandavanam

1987- Golden Jubilee for the Diocese and Kottar Living Together followed by Renewal Programs.

1987- Jubilee Memorial Hospital (as a Community Health Centre)

1989- Jubilee Memorial Animation Centre, Vellayambalam

2nd February 1989- Fr. Maria Callist Soosa Pakiam was made the Coadjutor Bishop and Apostolic Administrator and on 31st January 1990 appointed bishop and the renewal takes the form of Participatory Church.

1990- Basic Christian Communities

1990- Vishwa Prakash Central School, Mangattukadavu

1995- Divys Shanthi Ashram, Vettucaud

1996- Bishop Jacob Memorial Catholic Centre

14th June 1996- Trivandrum diocese bifurcated to erect Neyattinkara diocese.

1999- Little Flower Nursing School (Para Medical College-2011 Nursing College)

2000- Christu Jayanthi Jubilee Memorial Animation Cenre, Kovalam

2000- Nuh Mission

2001- Marian Engineering College, Kazhakuttom

2002- St. Jacob's Teacher Training College (B.Ed.), Kazhakuttom

2003- Centre of Excellence

17th June 2004- Trivandrum elevated an Archdiocese with Quilon, Alleppey, Punalur and Neyyattinkara as its suffragan dioceses. Bishop Soosapakiam became the Archbishop.

8th to 15th November2006- Asian Integral Pastoral Approach Assembly in the  diocese.

8th December 2008- Handmaids of Hope, Diocesan Women Religious Congregation

2012- Platinum Jubilee of the diocese.

2015- Little Flower Football Academy (LiFFA)

2016- Marian College of Arts and Science, Kazhakuttom

2nd February 2016- Fr. Christudas Rajappan was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum.

2nd February 2022- Fr. Thomas J. Netto was appointed as the second Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum. (Fifth Bishop)

The principal lay Associations are:

Confraternities(Combria Sabha), Legion of Mary, Charismatic Movement, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM), LCYM, Jesus Youth, Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA), KLCWA, Dalith Catholic Maha Sabha (DCMS), Cherupushpam, Mission League, Sodality, Little Way Association, Carmelite Third Order, Different forums of Advocates, Doctors, Officers, labourers, Migrants, Fishermen, Fish vending Women