# Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri (Latin: Dharmapurien(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Dharmapuri in the ecclesiastical province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in India. This Diocese administrate the political region of Dharmapuri district and Krishnagiri district.

## History

The history of the Dharmapuri Diocese is closely linked to that of the Diocese of Salem, from which it was separated from 24 January 1997. Christianity was introduced to the Salem Diocese in 1623 by Jesuit Robert De Nobili, followed by the Portuguese Jesuits of Madurai Missions. In 1654, Italian Jesuits from Mysore established their residence in Dharmapuri and began preaching the Gospel in the region, extending as far as Tirupattur in North Arcord.
In 1674, John de Britto visited Dharmapuri on his way to Kolei, accompanied by Fr. Antony Ribero. In 1687, the Church's work started to spread in the present districts of Salem and Dharmapuri. Despite the suppression of the Jesuits under the Pombal decree, they continued their mission under the jurisdiction of Cranganore.
In 1776, the Pope entrusted the Madurai Missions and the Malabar Missions to the MEP Fathers. In 1785, Chapenois, MEP Superior of the Malabar Mission, was given the responsibility by Rome to oversee the entire Mysore Mission, which included the old Diocese of Salem. In 1794, he became the first bishop to visit the Diocese of Salem and appointed Abbe Dubois to carry out the church's work.
Until 1930, this region remained under the administration of the Coramandal Missions and later the Apostolic Vicariate of Pondicherry, which became an archdiocese in 1886. However, Hosur Taluk was entrusted to the care of the Mysore Missions from 1861. On 3 August 1930, the Diocese of Salem was established.
Due to the vastness of the Diocese of Salem, the district of Dharmapuri was separated and declared a diocese by Pope John Paul II on 24 January 1997. Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj, a Salesian, was appointed as its first bishop. After 15 years of ministry, Irudayaraj retired on 13 January 2012, due to his advanced age. Lawrence Pius became the second bishop and was installed in the See of Dharmapuri on 20 February 2012. Under his leadership and the motto "To Proclaim the Good News to the Poor," the diocese has witnessed ongoing development in various fields. The Dharmapuri Diocese is the 15th diocese in the Tamil Nadu region.

## Leadership

* Bishops of Dharmapuri (Latin Rite)
** Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj (24 January 1997 – 13 January 2012)
** Lawrence Pius Dorairaj (since 13 January 2012)

## Parishes

This diocese has 45 Parish, which are bifurcated under 5 Vicariates
± = also Vicariate parish
| Parish | Established | Parish church | Sub-station church |
| Adaikalapuram | 1962 | St. Mary's Church |
| Averipally | 2022 | Our Lady of the Rosary Church |
| B.Pallipatti | 1930 | Our Lady of Mount Carmel | Our Lady of Lourdes Church, B.Pallipatti |
| Bagalur | 1999 | Mary Help of Christians Church |
| Bargur - Kottur | 1999 | St. Antony's Church |
| Biligundu | 2009 | St. Antony's Church |
| Bommidi | 1955 | St. Antony's Church | Periyanayagi Annai Church, Kalaignar Nagar |
| Christhupalayam | 1932 | Immaculate Conception Church |
| Dasarapalli | 1953 | Christ the King Church |
| Dasarapalli | 1953 | Christ the King Church | St. Antony's Church, Dasarapalli X Road |
| Dasarapalli | 1953 | Christ the King Church | St. Antony's Church, Thalikothanur |
| Denkanikottai ± | 1973 | Little Flower Church | St. Joseph Church, AVS, Denkanikottai |
| Dharmapuri ± | 1968 | Sacred Heart Cathedral |
| Dhinnur | 2023 | St. Paul the Hermit Church |
| Elathagiri | 1901 | Our Lady of Refuge Church |
| Elathagiri | 1901 | Our Lady of Refuge Church | Holy Family Church (Paarai Kovil) |
| Elathagiri | 1901 | Our Lady of Refuge Church | Infant Jesus Chapel, Kulandhai Yesu Nagar |
| Elathagiri | 1901 | Our Lady of Refuge Church | Periyanayagi Church, J.C. Pudur |
| Elathagiri | 1901 | Our Lady of Refuge Church | Poondi Madha Church, Rayapanoor |
| Elathagiri | 1901 | Our Lady of Refuge Church | Sagayamadha Church, Sagayapuram |
| Gopasandiram | 2020 | Queen of Heaven Church |
| Harur ± | 1973 | Sacred Heart Church | St. Antony's Church, Nadiyanur |
| Hogenakkal-Ootamalai | 2002 | Our Lady of the Falls Church |
| Hosur ± | 1979 | Sacred Heart Church |
| Hosur - Divine Nagar | 2013 | St. Therese of the Child Jesus |
| Hosur - Sipcot | 2000 | Our Lady of Lourdes Church | St. Joseph, the worker Church, Dharga |
| Kadagathur | 1910 | St. Mary's Church |
| Kadagathur | 1910 | St. Mary's Church | Our Lady of Refuge Church, K.N.Savulur |
| Kadagathur | 1910 | St. Mary's Church | St. Teresa of Baby Jesus Church, Kollagathur |
| Kandikuppam | 1979 | Queen of Heaven Church |
| Kandikuppam | 1979 | Queen of Heaven Church | Infant Jesus Church, Achamangalam |
| Kandikuppam | 1979 | Queen of Heaven Church | Our Lady of Refugee Chapel, Kamaraj Nagar |
| Kandikuppam | 1979 | Queen of Heaven Church | Velankanni Arokiya Madha Chapel, Kockanoor |
| Kandikuppam | 1979 | Queen of Heaven Church | Vannathu Andoniyar Church, Thandavanpallam |
| Kathanpallam | 2018 | St. Joseph Church |
| Kaveripattinam | 2009 | Our Lady of Peace Church |
| Kembathpalli | 2023 | St. Xavier Church |
| Kelamangalam | 1996 | Sacred Heart Church |
| Kethanahalli | 2000 | St. Francis Xavier's Church | Our Lady of Good Health Church, Thumbalahalli Dam |
| Kovilur | 1856 | St. Xavier's Church |
| Kovilur | 1856 | St. Xavier's Church | St. Antony's Church, Chittoor |
| Kovilur | 1856 | St. Xavier's Church | Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Kottampatti |
| Kovilur | 1856 | St. Xavier's Church | St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Narthampatti |
| Krishnagiri ± | 1930 | Our Lady of Fatima Shrine |
| Krishnagiri ± | 1930 | Our Lady of Fatima Shrine | St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Oldpet |
| Krishnagiri ± | 1930 | Our Lady of Fatima Shrine | St. Joseph Church, Periyarikodi |
| Krishnagiri ± | 1930 | Our Lady of Fatima Shrine | Sacred Heart Church, V.Madepalli |
| Mathagondapalli | 1930 | Sacred Heart Church |
| Mathigiri | 1926 | Our Lady of Good Health Church | Our Lady of Good Health Heritage Church, Kudhraipalayam |
| Nellimarathupatti | 2010 | Our Lady of Mt. Carmel |
| Onnalvadi | 2002 | Our Lady of Help Church | Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Chennathur |
| Palacode | 1985 | Christ the King Church |
| Palacode | 1985 | Christ the King Church | Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Savadiyur |
| Palacode | 1985 | Christ the King Church | Our Lady of Assumption Church, Kesarkuli Dam |
| Pappireddipatti | 2002 | Our Lady of Velankanni Church |
| Poolapatti | 2010 | St. Sebastian's Church |
| Pushpagiri | 2015 | St. Therese of the Child Jesus | Our Lady of Garland of Flowers, Madha Malai |
| Rayakottai | 1999 | Our Lady of Lourdes Church | Our Lady of Good Health Church, Panjampalli |
| Selliampatti | 2016 | Infant Jesus Church |
| Selliampatti | 2016 | Infant Jesus Church | St. Mary Magdalene Church, Gollapatti |
| Selliampatti | 2016 | Infant Jesus Church | St. Francis Xavier Church, Selliampatti |
| Selliampatti | 2016 | Infant Jesus Church | St. Joseph Church, Valan Nagar |
| Selliampatti | 2016 | Infant Jesus Church | St. Antony's Church, Anthoniyar Nagar |
| Sesurajapuram | 1979 | John de Britto Church | Our Lady of Good Health Church, Arokiapuram |
| Shoolagiri | 2005 | Our Lady of Velankanni Church | St. Antony Church, Kamaraj Nagar |
| Sollepuram | 2014 | Our Lady of Lourdes Church | St. Antony Church, Balagiri |
| Sundampatti | 1988 | St. Anthony of Padua Church | Vanathu Chinnapar Church, Soorankottai |
| Thenkaraikottai | 1952 | Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church |
| Uthangarai | 1982 | St. Antony's Church |
| Visuvasampatti | 1969 | Our Lady of Lourdes Church |