Trivandrum [Thiruvananthapuram] of the Latins, Diocese of

TRIVANDRUM [THIRUVANANTHAPURAM] OF THE LATINS, Diocese of. - Located in south-western India, it borders on the Arabian Sea and on the dioceses of Quilon, Madura and Kottar.

It was erected on 1 July 1937 by territorial detachment from the diocese of Quilon and made a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Verapoly. Civilly it formed part (except for the small British extent of Anjengo) of the Kingdom of Travancore; after the independence of India it is entirely included in the province of Cochin-Travancore. Over an area of 2,100 sq km it numbers 1,200,000 inhabitants, of whom 141,901 are Catholics, 2,000 dissidents, 31,000 Protestants, 120,000 Muslims, 835,000 Hindus. The diocese is divided into 3 rural deaneries, comprising 184 churches, of which 157 are parishes, served by 35 diocesan priests and 27 regulars; 1 male religious congregation and 7 female; 66 educational institutions, 5 charitable institutions. The diocese also has a house for spiritual retreats for laypeople, 2 University Hostels, 1 printing press. The confraternities, the associations of Catholic Action, the charitable works and the Third Orders are numerous. The work of conversion proceeds slowly and with difficulty.

By decree of 19 June 1952 the small coastal strip of territory, bordering on the said diocese and that of Kottar and formerly belonging to the diocese of Cochin, was given in temporary administration to the Ordinary of T.

Pompeo Borgna