Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai is located at the southeast corner of Bay of Bengal, 45 km east of Madurai city, in Tamil Nadu, India.

Diocese of Sivagangai Dioecesis Sivagangaiensis சிவகங்கை மறைமாவட்டம்
Bishopric
Alangara Annai Cathedral, Sivagangai
Location
Country	India
Territory	Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai
Metropolitan	Archdiocese of Madurai
Coordinates	9.8468°N 78.4792°E / 9.8468; 78.4792
Statistics
Area	8,353 km2 (3,225 sq mi)[1]
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2021) 3,123,623 182,150 (5.8%)
Parishes	82
Schools	160
Information
Formation	3 July 1987 (1987-07-03)
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Alangara Annai Cathedral
Co-cathedral	Basilica of St. John de Britto
Saint	John de Brito
Secular priests	177
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	The Most Reverend Lourdu Anandam
Metropolitan Archbishop	Anthony Pappusamy
Bishops emeritus	Rev Dr Edward Francis (1987-2005) Jebalamai Susaimanickam (2005-2020)

History

Alangara Annai Cathedral

It was established on July 25, 1987, bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Madurai. The Most Rev. S. Edward Francis was the First Bishop of the new Diocese and Bp. Jebamalai Susaimanickam succeeded him as the second bishop. On September 21, 2023, The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam was announced as the third bishop of the diocese, and his episcopal consecration took place on November 26, 2023.

The territory of the diocese includes two civil districts Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai. As of 2021^[update], the total population of the area is 2,502,340 of which the Catholic population is 182,150 (5.8%) and still growing. 20 years after the diocese has 62 parish centers, 734 mission stations about 107 diocesan clergy, 19 religious order priests and over 350 religious men and women serving at various religious and educational institutions in the diocesan region.

Saints and causes for canonisation

• St. John de Britto (1693), the patron saint of the diocese, entered the region as a Jesuit missionary from Europe and became the bedrock of faith for thousands of people. He was beheaded at Oriyur on Feb 4, 1693 by a regional king for preaching about Jesus Christ and establishing churches.^[2]
• Servant of God Fr. Louis Marie Leveil, SJ^[3]
• Servant of God Fr. Antonio Pietro Criminali^[4][5]

Bishops

The Most Reverend Dr. Lourdu Anandam
Bishop of Sivagangai
The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam, Bishop of Sivagangai
Metropolis	Archdiocese of Madurai
Diocese	Diocese of Sivagangai
Installed	September 21, 2023 (2023-09-21)
Predecessor	Jebalamai Susaimanickam
Orders
Ordination	April 6, 1986 (1986-04-06)
Consecration	September 21, 2023 (2023-09-21)
Personal details
Born	(1958-08-15) August 15, 1958 (age 67) Thiruvarangam, India
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Alma mater	University of Freiburg

First bishop was Edward Francis who served from 3 Jul 1987 until his retirement on 1 Sep 2005. He was succeeded by Rev Dr Jebamalai Susaimanickam, who served from 1 Sep 2005 until 25 Sep 2020 when he retired. The Most Rev. Dr. Lourdu Anandam is the third and current Bishop, having begun is term in 2023.