History
The eparchy of Mananthavady was erected by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, by the Bull Quanta Gloria of March 1, 1973 bifurcating the vast diocese of Tellicherry. The dioceses of Tellicherry and Mananthavady were erected for the migrated people from the central Kerala. Population explosion and the shortage of food during the post-war period (1945-1960) induced them to migrate to the uninhabited fertile lands of northern Kerala and to some isolated pockets of Tamilnadu and Karnataka States. These places were filled with thick forests and under the threat of malaria and other diseases. The migrated people, being agrarian, risking their own life cleared the forests and settled themselves cultivating paddy, rubber, coconut, coffee, cashew, pepper etc.
The diocese of Mananthavady was comprised of the civil districts of Wayanad and parts of the civil districts of Malapuram and Kannur in Kerala, the Nilgiris district in Tamilnadu and the districts of Shimoga, Chickmangalore, Hassan, Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajnagar in Karnataka. The parishes under the Manimooly Forane in Malappuram district and some of the parishes under the Peravoor Forane in Kannur district were added to diocese of Mananthavady on 1975 December 31st by the Oriental Congregation. Shimoga Mission Region which was entrusted to the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) was erected as the the Diocese of Bhadravathi on 21st August 2007 and Rev. Dr. Joseph Arumachadath was appointed as the first bishop. The diocese of Bhadravathi was inagurated and Mar Joseph Arumachadath was consecrated bishop and took charge of the diocese on 25th October 2007. The district of Mandya was entrusted to the pastoral care of the Missionary Society of St. Thomas (MST) and the district of Hassan was entrusted to the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). Mysore and Chamarajnagar were under the direct pastoral care of the Diocese of Mananthavady. The diocese of Mandya was erected on 18th January 2010 and all these mission regions ( Mandya, Hassan, Mysore and Chamarjnagar) became part of Mandya diocese. Msgr. Geroge Njaralakkatt was appointed as its first bishop. On the same day, (18th January 2010) the district of Chickmangalore which was entrusted to the Norbertine Fathers (O.Pream) was transfered to the Diocese of Bhadravathi. On 7th April 2011 the diocese of Mandya was inagurated and Msgr Geroge Njaralakkatt was consecrated bishop and took charge of the diocese. At present the Eparchy of Mananthavady has an area of approximately 13,036 sq. kms and a population of 1,71, 200 Syrian Catholics and 145 parishes.
Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy (Archbishop Emeritus of Trichur) was consecrated as the first Bishop of Mananthavady on May 01, 1973. Tellicherry diocese was raised to the status of Metropolitan Archdiocese by the Papal on 18th May 1995. After 22 years of able guidance, on June 07, 1995 he was transferred to the diocese of Thamarassery. The then Protosyncellus Msgr. Joseph Kaniamattam was appointed the Administrator of the eparchy on July 27, 1995. On January 26, 1997 BishopEmmanuel Pothanamuzhy CMI was consecrated the second bishop of the eparchy. After the demise of Bishop Pothanamuzy on April 06, 2003, Protosyncellus Msgr. George Njaralakatt was appointed the Administrator of the eparchy. The present bishop Mar Jose Porunnedom was appointed on March18, 2004 and was consecrated the third bishop of Mananthavady on May 15, 2004 and took charge of the office on the same day.Emmanuel Pothanamuzhy CMI was consecrated the second bishop of the eparchy. After the demise of Bishop Pothanamuzy on April 06, 2003, Protosyncellus Msgr. George Njaralakatt was appointed the Administrator of the eparchy. The present bishop Mar Jose Porunnedom was appointed on March18, 2004 and was consecrated the third bishop of Mananthavady on May 15, 2004 and took charge of the office on the same day.
Bishop MAR JOSE PORUNNEDOM
Born : March 13, 1956
Ordained Priest : December 22, 1982
Nominated Bishop of Mananthavady : March 18, 2004
Consecration and Installation : May 15, 2004
Bishop Mar Jose Porunnedom was born at Vettimattam in the district of Idukki on March 13 , 1956. He had his seminary studies at St. Joseph's Minor Seminary Tellichery, St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva and at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. He was ordained priest on December 22, 1982 in his parish at Malom, in the Archdiocese of Tellicherry. After ordination he served as assistant parish priest at Kottiyoor, as Vicar at Santhigiri, Secretary to Bishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy, and Chancellor of the diocese. Meanwhile serving as Secretary and Chancellor he served as Parish Priest of Puthusserikadav and Thrissillery. In 1986 he was sent to Rome where he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Oriental Institute. After his return from Rome in 1991, he took charge of the offices of the Chancellor of the diocese and of the Eparchial Judge. In 1992 when the Syro-Malabar Church was raised to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church, Archbishop Abraham Kattumana, the special delegate of the Pope, appointed him as the Chancellor of the Major Archiepisocpal Curia of the Syro-Malabar Church. Major Archbishops Antony Cardinal Padiyara and Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil extended his office of the Chancellor till he was appointed the third bishop of the eparchy of Mananthavady on March 18 , 2004. He was consecrated the Bishop and took charge of the eparchy of Mananthavady on May 15, 2004. His Motto is "Not to be served but to serve".
FORMER BISHOPS
MAR JACOB THOOMKUZHY (The First Bishop)
Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy was born at Vilakkumadam in the diocese of Palai on December 13, 1930. He had his seminary studies at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva and at the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. He was ordained priest on December 22, 1956 in Rome. After ordination he obtained a JUD from the Lateran University, Rome. He holds a Masters degree in English Literature from the Fordham University, New York. He was appointed the first bishop of Mananthavady on March 01, 1973 and was consecrated on May 01, 1973. Later he was appointed the second Bishop of Thamarassery on June 07, 1995 and took charge of the office on July 28, 1995. On December 08, 1996 he was nominated the Archbishop of Trichur Archdiocese. He retired as metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Trichur on 18th March 2007. was appointed the first bishop of Mananthavady on March 01, 1973 and was consecrated on May 01, 1973. Later he was appointed the second Bishop of Thamarassery on June 07, 1995 and took charge of the office on July 28, 1995. On December 08, 1996 he was nominated the Archbishop of Trichur Archdiocese. He retired as metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Trichur on 18th March 2007.
Address : Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy
St. Mary's Minor Seminary, Madona Nagar, Trichur 68005
Tel:0487 24444488, Mob: 9447733477
E-mail : jacobbthoomkuzhy@hotmail.com
MAR EMMANUEL POTHANAMUZHY CMI (The Second Bishop)
Bishop Mar Emmanuel Pothanamuzhy CMI was born at Nadukara in the diocese of Kothamangalam on August 05, 1932. He joined the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) in 1950 and his Final Profession was on December 08, 1954. He had his theological studies at Dharmaram College Banglore. He was ordained priest on December 01, 1964 at Bombay. He had a Bachelor's degree from S.H. College, Thevara and Masters degree from St. Joseph’s College Tiruchirappalli. He did his higher studies in Education and Management at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. He served as the founder principal of Christ College, Bangalore for 14 years and as Rector of Dharmaram College for three years. He was appointed the second Bishop of Mananthavady on December 11, 1996 and was consecrated bishop on January 26,1997 and took charge of the office on the same day. As a good shepherd he administered his office working untiringly for the diocese of Mananthavady for six years. Faithful to his motto " Thy Will be done", he committed himself to the divine Will even in his last days of grave disease. He was called for eternal reward on April 06, 2003.
Diocese