History
The history of the Church in Dindigul Diocese dates back to many centuries. The people of the diocese owe their faith to Jesuit Fathers who tirelessly toiled in this region. The history of Dindigul Diocese is inextricably interwoven with the history of Jesuit missionary work in Tamil Nadu, especially in and around Dindigul. Dindigul’s name, however, was first mentioned only in the 1711 Annual Letters of the Jesuit missionaries which were sent to Rome. But records show the presence of Christians in this region even earlier, as Dindigul was on the way from Tiruchirapalli and Malayadipatty to Palani and Uthamapalayam, which had already been evangelized at the end of the 17th century.
After the death of Bishop Canoz at the age of 83 in 1888, Msgr. John Barthe, S.J. was consecrated the Bishop of Tiruchirapalli. In 1914, when Bishop Barthe resigned,Rev. Msgr. Augustine Faisandier, S.J. who had been his Coadjutor from1909 succeeded him. In 1923, a portion of the Fishery Coast with 70,000 Catholics was detached from Tiruchirapalli diocese to form the new diocese of Tuticorin and was entrusted to the care of the Diocesan clergy with Rev. Msgr. Tiburtius Roche, S.J. as its First Bishop. After the death of Rev. Msgr. Augustine Faisandier, S.J. in 1935, Rev. Msgr. John Peter Leonard, S.J. was appointed Bishop of Tiruchirapalli in 1936.
In 1938, on the centenary year of the New Madurai Mission, the diocese was again divided. The diocese of Tiruchirapalli retained the five civil taluks of Palani, Dindigul, Kulithalai, Tiruchi and Kolathur with a Catholic population of 98,000 with Rev. Msgr.James Mendonca as the First Diocesan Bishop of Tiruchi. The rest of the old diocese with 1,60,000 Catholics was erected as the new diocese of Madurai with Rev. Msgr.J.P.Leonard, S.J. as its first Bishop. Fifteen years later in 1953 Madurai diocese was raised to the status of an Archdiocese with Tiruchi, Tuticorin and Kottar as its suffragan Dioceses.
At the time of bifurcation of Madurai Archdiocese from Tiruchirapalli, the Dindigul town and the church in Mettupatti, though still in the Madurai district, remained part of the Tiruchirapalli diocese. Bishop James Mendonca found his diocese large enough to launch the idea of dividing it. Again this idea got strengthened under his successors Bishops Thomas Fernando and S. L. Gabriel. Active steps were taken by Bishop Peter Fernando who was the Apostolic Administrator of Tiruchirapalli and the division was finally decided by the Holy See during the time of Bishop Antony Devotta on Nov.10, 2003.
The Holy Father, John Paul II, erected the new Diocese of Dindigul on November 10, 2003 bifurcating the Tiruchirapalli diocese and Rt. Rev. Antony Pappusamy the Auxiliary Bishop of Madurai since 1999 was installed as the first Bishop of the diocese on December 28, 2003. In addition to 31 parishes from Tiruchirapalli Diocese, six parishes from Madurai Archdiocese were added to form the Diocese of Dindigul, the 17th diocese in Tamil Nadu.
As soon as the new diocese was inaugurated, the new Bishop initiated the pastoral planning exercise with the total involvement of the clergy, religious and the laity. As a first step, the census and a study on the socio-economic condition of Catholics in the diocese were undertaken to have a greater understanding of the people and to identify their immediate needs. It gave insights into the question, what it means to establish the Kingdom of God here and now in Dindigul Diocese. Based on this, the vision for the diocese was developed; four broad areas of focus, viz., diocesan administration, pastoral-spiritual life, education and socio-economic status, were identified; priorities were set for the next five years and concrete action plans were decided upon. It was a great achievement to have completed the entire process within nine months. Dindigul was the first diocese in the country to evolve a Pastoral Plan and that too at its inception in a systematic and scientific manner. With the help of this roadmap, the diocese was able to move towards the desired development satisfactorily under the able leadership of Bishop Antony Pappusamy within a short span of 11 years. He has been transferred from Dindigul to Madurai as the Archbishop of the Metropolitan see and Installed on 24th August 2014 as the sixth prelate to the Madurai Archdiocese. Almost two years the diocese was vacant and was led by the team of priests headed by Rev. Msgr. K. S. Arockiasamy as the Administrator of the Diocese.
In the year of mercy, The Triune God bestows his choicest blessings on the Diocese of Dindigul by giving us a good shepherd in the person of Rev. Msgr. P. Thomas Paulsamy. His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. P. Thomas Paulsamy, the clergy of Tiruchirapalli Diocese as the New Bishop of Dindigul on 11th April 2016. He was consecrated and installed as the second bishop of Dindigul on 22nd May 2016(Sunday) by His Grace Archbishop Most Rev. Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India & Nepal. In his capacity as a priest of 39 years in the vineyard of the Lord he has served in various responsibilities in the diocese. While he was the Vicar Forane between 1986 to 1992 in St. Joseph’s Church, Dindigul, (then it was in the undivided Diocese of Tiruchirapalli) with his foresight he tremendously worked hard for the formation of Dindigul Diocese. It is worth to mention here that during his tenure as a Vicar Forane, he was one of the pioneers for the foundation of several schools and Diocesan social development centre in Dindigul. He has been showing great interest in pastoral as well as in the developmental field. Having his Episcopal Motto as “Being Rooted in Christ and Bearing Fruit”, he takes a lead towards a holistic development in the diocese.
Today there are 69 diocesan priests and several religious serving in 49 parishes and various institutions in Dindigul. Many more religious men and women congregations have volunteered to come and serve in the diocese. The Church of Dindigul, being rooted in faith discerned its needs and decided on its options and obligations through personal interaction with the people, clergy and religious of the diocese and through systematic scientific study. We have prioritized these needs and evolved a pastoral plan to address both the long- and the short-term goals in the four-pronged strategy which includes revamping the Diocesan Administration, Pastoral and Spiritual Life, Education and the Socio-economic Status. We believe the Lord Himself has entrusted this task to us and leads us from the forefront as we march towards fullness of life.
FIRST BISHOP OF DINDIGUL
THE MOST REV.ANTONY PAPPUSAMY,D.D., S.T.D.
| Born | 01.10.1949 |
| Priestly Ordination | 07.07.1976 |
| Election | 05.11.1998 |
| Episcopal Ordination | 04.02.1999 |
| Auxiliary Bishop of Madurai Archdiocese | 04.02.1999 to 27.12.2003 |
| Installation in Dindigul | 28.12.2003 |
| Bishop of Dindigul | 28.12.2003 – 23.08.2014 |
| Appointed Archbishop of Madurai | 26.07.2014 |
| Installation Archbishop of Madurai | 24.08.2014 |
| Archbishop’s Personal Contact Details | Most. Rev. Dr. Antony Pappusamy D.D., STD Archbishop’s House K. Pudur Madurai – 625 007 |
| Archbishop’s House Phone | Resi. 0452- 2566198 Off: 0452-2563330 |
| bishopantonyp@yahoo.com |
SECOND BISHOP OF DINDIGUL
THE MOST REV.P.THOMAS PAULSAMY D.D.
| Born | 02.08.1951 |
| Priestly Ordination | 25.05.1977 |
| Election | 11.04.2016 |
| Episcopal Ordination | 22.05.2016 |
| Bishop Contact Details | Bishop’s House cum Retreat Centre Valan Nagar, P.B.No:6 Mullipadi P.O. B.K.Pudur, S.O. Dindigul-624 005 |
| Phone | Off: 7305231507 |
| bishopthomaspaulsamydgl@gmail.com (Per) dgldiocese@yahoo.co.in (Off) |
Pope Francis appointed Rev. Msgr. P. Thomas Paulsamy as the second prelate of the diocese of Dindigul on 11.04.2016.
Most Rev. P. Thomas Paulsamy a native of Poolampatty Village in the diocese of Trichy was born on 02nd August 1951. He completed Philosophy and then Theology in St. Paul’s Seminary, Trichirapalli. He was ordained priest on May 25, 1977 in St. Joseph’s Church, Dindigul by then Trichirapally Bishop – Most Rev.Dr.Thomas Fernando D.D,.D.C.L. for the Trichy Diocese
After three years as assistant parish priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trichy, The Holy Redeemer’s Minor Basilica, Trichy, and St. Joseph’s Church, Dindigul, he was appointed as the Parish Priest in Kosavapatty, Dindigul. In continuance, he has been rendered his pastoral ministry as a compassionate pastor in several parishes such as Kailasapuram, Dindigul, Malaiyadipatty, Palakarai, Nanjur and Fathima Nagar. He Joined in the Maryknoll School of Theology, USA and did his masters in Theology besides his pastoral ministry in Staten Island, USA. He served as a Vicar General of the diocese from 2008- 2015. Later he was in St. Antony’s Church, Kallukuzhy as a Parish Priest which he held until his appointment as the bishop of Dindigul.
He was Consecrated and Installed as the 2nd bishop of Dindigul on 22nd May 2016 at St. Mary’s Hr. Sec. School Campus, Dindigul by His Grace Archbishop Most Rev. Salvatore Pennachio, and the Apostolic Nuncio to India in the presence of Tamil Nadu bishops.
While shepherding the diocese of Dindigul, he has been serving as the Chairman to BC/MBC/DNC commission in Regional level.
Diocese of Dindigul. Tamil Nadu. India 