Diocese of Mavelikkara – Bishop of the Diocese is Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church will have a new Diocese with Mavelikara as its headquarters under the Metropolitan Province of Trivandrum.

The Church authorities have also appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum Joshua Mar Ignathios as Bishop of the newly constituted Mavelikara Diocese.

The decrees of the Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselius Catholicos constituting the new diocese and appointing Mar Ignathios as its Bishop were read out by Synod secretary and Muvattupuzha Bishop Thomas Mar Coorilos at a function held at St Mary’s Cathedral here on Monday. The Malayalam translations of the decrees were read out by Chancellor of the Archdiocese Fr Antony Valiyavilayil.

Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis and Bishops Yuhanon Mar Crisostum, Geeverghese Mar Divannasios and Joseph Mar Thomas and Geeverghese Mar Thimothios were also present on the occasion.

As per the ecclesiastical decrees, the new diocese will consist of the presbyteral districts of Mavelikara, Kollam and parts of Chengannur and Adoor spread over the civil districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Pathanamthitta. The new diocese will consist of 92 parishes and 35,000 faithful and its Cathedral will be at St. Mary’s Church,Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

Mavelikara is the sixth diocese of Syro-Malankara Church and the second Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum, after Marthandam.

The formal inauguration of the new diocese and elevation of Mar Ignathios as its Bishop will take place on February 16,2006 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

contributed by –

Mr. Bitu George, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.