VELLORE, DIOCESE of. - Situated in south-eastern India and erected by decree of 13 Nov. 1952 with territory detached from the archdiocese of Madras.
It comprises the civil district of North Arcot (except for the part south of the Cheyyer River, belonging to the archdiocese of Pondicherry) and the taluks of Palmaner and Tirutani belonging to the civil district of Chittor. It borders on the archdioceses of Madras and Pondicherry and on the dioceses of Salem, Mangalore, and Nellore.
It has a population of 2,862,155 inhabitants, of whom 2,500,000 are Hindus, 300,000 Mohammedans, 31,102 Catholics, and 20,000 Protestants. It is entrusted to the Salesians of S. Giovanni Bosco. The bishop, who is indigenous, resides at V., capital of the civil district of North Arcot, with 106,603 inhabitants, including 2,000 Catholics. The first small church erected there dates from 1626. Ecclesiastically, the diocese is divided into 28 primary stations or quasi-parishes and 60 secondary stations. Numerous works are devoted to the welfare of boys and girls. Its total area is 12,830 sq. km. Tamil and Telegu are spoken there. Catholic schools number about seventy, with 12,000 pupils. At present, 25 Salesian priests, 16 secular priests, 20 European nuns, and 41 Indian nuns work there.