KOTTAR, DIOCESI di - A suffragan diocese of Verapoly, it was detached from the Diocese of Quilon and entrusted to the Indian secular clergy on 26 May 1930. It is situated at the extreme southern tip of India, facing the Indian Ocean. It borders the said Ocean and the dioceses of Quilon, Cochin, and Tuticorin. In 1544 s. Francesco Saverio passed through it, and the movement of conversions then began which subsequently intensified through the zeal of the Jesuits under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Cochin. At K. there is a church built on ground sanctified by the miracles of Saverio and which is a destination for pilgrimages.
The diocese has an area of 1,655 sq. km. and a population of 790,046 inhabitants, almost all of Tamil stock 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 foran vicariates, 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 tertiary Carmelite priests of Manjumel, and 3 brothers of the Missionary Congregation of S. Francesco d'Assisi. The sisters number 169 (nearly two-thirds of them Indian), belonging to various religious institutes. The diocese maintains a minor seminary with 41 students; 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 ordinary industrial schools and 1 printing press.
