KUMBAKONAM, Diocese of. - Erected on 1 September 1889 with territory detached from the archdiocese of Pondichéry and entrusted to the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris. Located in southern India, it has uniform and flat terrain, in some parts irrigated and very fertile. By the Convention between the Holy See and Portugal of 26 April 1928, part of the territory was ceded to the diocese of St. Thomas of Melispur, and later another part, together with areas detached from the dioceses of Pondichéry and Mysore, served to form the diocese of Salem (26 May 1930). In the same year the diocese of K. passed from the Foreign Missions of Paris to the indigenous clergy.
Its area is 7,500 sq km. In this mission, coming from the residence of Madura, the Jesuits St. John de Britto (1647-93), a Portuguese, and Constantine Beschi (1680-1742), an Italian, exercised their apostolate; following the method of evangelization of the Jesuit Father Roberto de Nobili, they achieved great success. The population reaches 1,580,000 inhabitants, of whom the great majority, 1,350,000, follow Hinduism, 5,800 are Muslims, 6,200 Protestants, 105,000 Catholics. Ecclesiastically the diocese is divided into 7 districts or rural vicariates, 45 parishes or primary stations and 339 secondary stations, with 73 churches and 163 chapels.
The priests number 80, all Indians: 70 of the secular clergy and 10 of the regular clergy (Capuchins), and there are 23 brothers. About 200 nuns, mostly Indian, belonging to various institutes, assist the clergy. Instruction is provided by 213 male teachers and 163 female teachers in 64 elementary schools; 13 middle schools, 2 higher schools and 3 vocational schools with a total of 12,386 students. The works of charity are represented by 2 hospitals with 100 beds, 8 dispensaries with an average of 131,000 consultations a year, 6 orphanages capable of housing 400 orphans, 2 almshouses with 46 residents, 1 leper hospital with 350 patients, 1 infant asylum.
Some pious associations and associations of Catholic Action have already existed for several years. The diocese also possesses a printing press.