TUTICORIN, DIOCESI DI

Erected on 12 June 1923, with territory taken from the diocese of Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappally); it was joined, by the Additional Convention of 29 June 1929 between the Holy See and Portugal, to 5 parishes of the diocese of S. Tommaso di Meliapore. It is entrusted to the Indian clergy. Over an area of 6,400 sq. km., it has 2,100,000 inhabitants, of whom 117,107 are Catholics, 70,200 Protestants, 25,000 Muslims, and 1,350,000 Hindus. There are 78 Catholic priests, of whom 72 are indigenous diocesan priests and 5 are religious. The clergy is assisted by 16 Brothers of the Sacred Heart (a diocesan institute originating in Madhurai) and 17 Rosarian Brothers, and by 260 sisters, almost all indigenous. There is also a minor seminary. Ecclesiastically, the diocese is divided into 4 deaneries, 48 parishes, and 356 secondary stations (statistics of 1952). It has 300 catechists; 686 male teachers and 240 female teachers. Charitable works include: 1 hospital, 1 recently founded leper asylum, 7 orphanages, and a poorhouse. The confraternities, sodalities, and Catholic Action associations are flourishing. The diocese also owns a printing press where the newspaper Guatahutha, which is fairly widely circulated, is printed.