Tanjore (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sagayaraj Thamburaj, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 13 November 1952
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 9,583 (3,701 Square Miles)
Description: comprises the entire districts of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagai (excepting two taluks of Papanasam and Kumbakonam in the district of Thanjavur). It is also covers six taluks of Pudukottai district and two taluks of Cuddalore district.
Official Web Site: https://tanjorediocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 204, Thanjavur-613007, Tamil Nadu, India
Telephone: (04362)231.252; 234.401

Past and Present Ordinaries

Rajarethinam Arokiasamy Sundaram † (4 Feb 1953 Appointed - 12 Sep 1986 Retired)
Packiam Arokiaswamy † (12 Sep 1986 Appointed - 28 Jun 1997 Retired)
Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss † (28 Jun 1997 Appointed - 4 Feb 2023 Retired)
Sagayaraj Thamburaj (13 Jul 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
13 November 1952	Erected	Diocese of S�o Tom� of Meliapore (Area near Tanjore)	Diocese of Tanjore (erected)
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Tanjore (from Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1970 122,000 2,458,218 5.0% 69 5 74 1,648 7 331 43 ap1971

1980 156,180 3,025,485 5.2% 81 5 86 1,816 23 145 48 ap1981

1990 199,094 5,518,000 3.6% 118 13 131 1,519 26 504 64 ap1991

1999 206,970 6,019,000 3.4% 148 16 164 1,262 19 539 74 ap2000

2000 207,190 1,814,818 11.4% 147 20 167 1,240 58 560 74 ap2001

2001 207,950 3,824,331 5.4% 152 18 170 1,223 51 560 75 ap2002

2002 192,381 3,808,262 5.1% 153 20 173 1,112 55 526 75 ap2003

2003 192,381 3,808,262 5.1% 154 20 174 1,105 25 526 75 ap2004

2004 193,560 3,820,117 5.1% 155 20 175 1,106 55 526 75 ap2005

2010 260,800 4,223,000 6.2% 164 31 195 1,337 71 650 86 ap2011

2014 310,382 4,869,291 6.4% 164 51 215 1,443 69 783 89 ap2015

2017 339,863 5,092,290 6.7% 164 60 224 1,517 79 724 92 ap2018

2020 459,500 6,888,040 6.7% 168 67 235 1,955 86 671 96 ap2021

2022 469,000 7,026,000 6.7% 185 73 258 1,817 81 715 96 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	122,000	2,458,218	5.0%	69	5	74	1,648	7	331	43	ap1971
1980	156,180	3,025,485	5.2%	81	5	86	1,816	23	145	48	ap1981
1990	199,094	5,518,000	3.6%	118	13	131	1,519	26	504	64	ap1991
1999	206,970	6,019,000	3.4%	148	16	164	1,262	19	539	74	ap2000
2000	207,190	1,814,818	11.4%	147	20	167	1,240	58	560	74	ap2001
2001	207,950	3,824,331	5.4%	152	18	170	1,223	51	560	75	ap2002
2002	192,381	3,808,262	5.1%	153	20	173	1,112	55	526	75	ap2003
2003	192,381	3,808,262	5.1%	154	20	174	1,105	25	526	75	ap2004
2004	193,560	3,820,117	5.1%	155	20	175	1,106	55	526	75	ap2005
2010	260,800	4,223,000	6.2%	164	31	195	1,337	71	650	86	ap2011
2014	310,382	4,869,291	6.4%	164	51	215	1,443	69	783	89	ap2015
2017	339,863	5,092,290	6.7%	164	60	224	1,517	79	724	92	ap2018
2020	459,500	6,888,040	6.7%	168	67	235	1,955	86	671	96	ap2021
2022	469,000	7,026,000	6.7%	185	73	258	1,817	81	715	96	ap2023