KOTTAR, DIOCESE OF. - A suffragan see of Verapoly, it was dismembered from the diocese of Quilon and entrusted to the Indian secular clergy on 26 May 1930. It is situated in the extreme tip of India that faces the Indian Ocean. It borders on the said ocean and on the dioceses of Quilon, Cochin and Tuticorin. In 1544 St Francis Xavier passed through Kottar and the conversion movement that then began was later intensified by the zeal of the Jesuits under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Cochin. At Kottar there is a church built on a site sanctified by the miracles of St Francis Xavier and a destination of pilgrimages.
The diocese has an area of 1,655 sq km and a population of 790,064 inhabitants, almost all of Tamil race and language. Of these, 483,636 are Hindus, 56,638 Muslims, 102,318 Protestants and 148,321 Catholics with 924 catechumens. It is divided into 4 deaneries, 46 parishes, 1 primary station and 112 secondary stations. There are 57 secular priests, assisted by 6 Discalced Carmelites and an equal number of lay brothers, 2 Carmelite tertiary priests of Manjumel and 3 brothers of the Missionary Congregation of St Francis of Assisi. There are 169 sisters (almost two-thirds Indian) belonging to various religious institutes. The diocese maintains a minor seminary with 41 pupils; 20 clerics pursue philosophical and theological studies outside the diocese. In 84 elementary schools 15,949 pupils are educated and in 17 secondary schools of various grades 2,000 students. There are normal industrial schools and 1 printing press.
KOTTAR, DIOCESE OF - Christian village.
Charitable works include 3 orphanages and an asylum for the elderly. Various and flourishing are the confraternities, pious associations and Catholic Action.