KUMBAKONAM, DIOCESE of. — Erected on 1 September 1889 with territory detached from the archdiocese of Pondichéry, it was entrusted to the Society of the Foreign Missions of Paris. Situated in southern India, it has level, flat terrain, irrigated in some parts and extremely fertile. Under the Convention between the Holy See and Portugal of 26 April 1928, part of the territory was ceded to the diocese of S. Tommaso di Melispur, and later another part, together with areas detached from the dioceses of Pondichéry and Mysore, was used 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 s. Giovanni de Britto (1647–93), a Portuguese, and Costantino Beschi (1680–1742), an Italian, exercised their apostolate; following the Jesuit Fr. Roberto de Nobili’s method of evangelization, they achieved considerable success. The population numbers 1,580,000, of whom the great majority, 1,350,000, follow Hinduism; 5,800 are Muslims, 6,200 Protestants, and 105,000 Catholics. Ecclesiastically, the diocese is divided into 7 districts or deaneries, 45 parishes or primary stations, and 339 secondary stations, with 73 churches and 163 chapels.
There are 80 priests, all Indians: 70 secular clergy and 10 regular clergy (Capuchins), and 23 brothers. Approximately 200 nuns, mostly Indian and belonging to various institutes, assist the clergy. Instruction is provided by 213 male 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. Charitable works include 2 hospitals with 100 beds, 8 dispensaries averaging 131,000 consultations annually, 6 orphanages accommodating 400 orphans, 2 poorhouses with 46 residents, 1 leprosarium with 350 patients, and 1 nursery school.
Several pious associations and Catholic Action organizations have existed for several years. The diocese also possesses a printing press.