The Diocese of Dharmapuri () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church located in the city of Dharmapuri, India, in the ecclesiastical province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. The diocese administers to 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 / Chapel 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 St. Antony's Church, Dasarapalli X Road 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 Holy Family Church (Paarai Kovil) Infant Jesus Chapel, Kulandhai Yesu Nagar Periyanayagi Church, J.C. Pudur Poondi Madha Church, Rayapanoor 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 ChurchSt. Joseph, the worker Church, Dharga Kadagathur 1910 St. Mary's Church Our Lady of Refuge Church, K.N.Savulur St. Teresa of Baby Jesus Church, Kollagathur Kandikuppam 1979 Queen of Heaven Church Infant Jesus Church, Achamangalam Our Lady of Refugee Chapel, Kamaraj Nagar Velankanni Arokiya Madha Chapel, Kockanoor 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 St. Antony's Church, Chittoor Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Kottampatti St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Narthampatti Krishnagiri ± 1930 Our Lady of Fatima Shrine St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Oldpet St. Joseph Church, Periyarikodi 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 Our Lady of Assumption Church, Kesarkuli Dam Pappireddipatti 2002 Our Lady of Velankanni Church Pochampalli 2025 Annai Velankanni Madha 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 St. Mary Magdalene Church, Gollapatti St. Francis Xavier Church, Selliampatti St. Joseph Church, Valan Nagar St. Antony's Church, Anthoniyar Nagar Savadiyur 2025 Our Lady of Good Health Church 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 Veppampatti 2025 St. Francis Xavier's Church Visuvasampatti 1969 Our Lady of Lourdes Church

Notes

References

External links GCatholic.org Catholic Hierarchy