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{{Short description|Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox diocese
|jurisdiction = Diocese
|name = Dharmapuri
|latin = Dioecesis Dharmapuriensis
|local = {{lang|ta|தர்மாபுரி மறைமாவட்டம்}}
|border = Catholic
| coat = Diocese of Dharmapuri.png
| coat_alt =
|country = {{flag|India}}
|province = [[Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]
|metropolitan = Pondicherry and Cuddalore
|cathedral = [[Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dharmapuri]]
|cocathedral =
|deaneries = 5
|parishes = 48{{efn|name="ap2024"}}
|churches = 57
|language = Tamil
|denomination = [[Catholic Church]]
|sui_iuris_church = [[Latin Church]]
|rite = [[Roman Rite]]
|established = 1997
|area_km2 = 9,641
|population = 3,450,894{{efn|name="ap2024"|''[[Annuario Pontificio]]'' (2023) via ''[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]]''<ref name="catholic-hierarchy.ddhar">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Diocese of Dharmapuri |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/ddhar.html |publisher=David M. Cheney |encyclopedia =[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] |date=24 February 2025 |access-date=24 October 2025}}</ref>}}
|population_as_of = 2023
|catholics = 56,162{{efn|name="ap2024"}}
|catholics_percent = {{percentage|56,162|3,450,894|1|%=}}
|priests = 121{{efn|name="ap2024"}}
|pope = {{Incumbent pope}}
|bishop = [[Lawrence Pius Dorairaj]]
|metro_archbishop = [[Francis Kalist]]
|vicar_general = A. Ambrose
|website = {{URL|https://dharmapuridiocese.in/}}
}}

[[File:ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESIS OF DHARMAPURI.png|thumb|Map of Diocese of Dharmapuri and its Parish churches|alt=Map of Diocese of Dharmapuri]]

The '''Diocese of Dharmapuri''' ({{langx|la| Dharmapurien(sis)}}) is a [[Latin Church|Latin]] [[diocese]] of the [[Catholic Church]] located in the city of [[Dharmapuri]], India, in the [[ecclesiastical province]] of [[Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|Pondicherry and Cuddalore]]. The diocese administers to the political region of [[Dharmapuri district]] and [[Krishnagiri district]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dharmapuri Diocese |url=https://dharmapuridiocese.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521074021/https://dharmapuridiocese.org/ |archive-date=2023-05-21 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=dharmapuridiocese.org}}</ref>

==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 [[Roberto de Nobili|Robert De Nobili]], followed by the Portuguese Jesuits of [[Madura Mission|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 district|Salem]] and [[Dharmapuri district|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 [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|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 [[Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|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 [[Salesians of Don Bosco|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salem Diocese - Welcome to Diocese of Salem |url=https://salemdiocese.org/history/ | url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003035718/https://salemdiocese.org/history/ |archive-date=2023-10-03 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=salemdiocese.org}}</ref>

==Leadership==
* [[Bishop]]s of Dharmapuri ([[Latin Church|Latin Rite]])
** [[Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj]] (24 January 1997 – 13 January 2012)
** Lawrence Pius Dorairaj (since 13 January 2012)<ref>{{cite magazine | date = June 2019 | title = News Letter Dharamapuri Diocese | url = https://www.cbci.in/Newletter/Newletter61316150249.pdf | format = PDF | language = ta | magazine = News Letter | location = Dharmapuri | publisher = Diocese of Dharmapuri | access-date = September 6, 2023 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Parishes==

This diocese has 45 Parish,<ref>{{cite web |title=Parishes |url=https://dharmapuridiocese.org/parishes/lists.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028070952/https://dharmapuridiocese.org/parishes/lists.html |archive-date=2022-10-28 |website=Dharmapuri Diocese}}</ref> which are bifurcated under 5 Vicariates<ref>{{cite web |title=Diocese Activities and Organizations of India |url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/parishes-stations/india-dharmapuri/62/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010190813/https://www.ucanews.com/directory/parishes-stations/india-dharmapuri/62/ |archive-date=2023-10-10 |website=Union of Catholic Asian News}}</ref>

'''±''' = ''also Vicariate parish''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Parish !! Established !! Parish church !! Sub-station church / Chapel
|-
| [[Adaikalapuram, Denkanikottai|Adaikalapuram]] || 1962 || St. Mary's Church
|-
| [[Averipally, Thally|Averipally]] || 2022 || [[Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Averipalli|Our Lady of the Rosary Church]]
|-
| [[B Pallipatti|B.Pallipatti]] || 1930 || [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, B Pallipatti|Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] || Our Lady of Lourdes Church, B.Pallipatti
|-
| [[Bagalur, Hosur|Bagalur]] || 1999 || Mary Help of Christians Church
|-
| [[Kottur, Bargur|Bargur - Kottur]] || 1999 || St. Antony's Church
|-
| [[Biligundlu|Biligundu]] || 2009 || St. Antony's Church
|-
| [[Bommidi]] || 1955 || [[St. Antony's Church, Bommidi|St. Antony's Church]] || Periyanayagi Annai Church, Kalaignar Nagar
|-
| [[Christhupalayam]] || 1932 || [[Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Chrishthupalayam|Immaculate Conception Church]]
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Dasarapalli]] || rowspan="3"| 1953 || rowspan="3"| 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, Dharmapuri|Sacred Heart Cathedral]]
|-
| [[Dinnur, Krishnagiri district|Dhinnur]] || 2023 || St. Paul the Hermit Church
|-
| rowspan="6" | [[Elathagiri]] || rowspan="6" | 1901 || rowspan="6" | [[Our Lady of Refuge Church, Elathagiri|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, Thally|Gopasandiram]] || 2020 || [[Our Lady Of Queen Of Heaven Church, Gopasandiram|Queen of Heaven Church]]
|-
| [[Harur]] ± || 1973 || Sacred Heart Church || St. Antony's Church, Nadiyanur
|-
| [[Hogenakkal, Dharmapuri|Hogenakkal]]-Ootamalai || 2002 || Our Lady of the Falls Church
|-
| [[Hosur]] ± || 1979 || [[Sacred Heart Church, Hosur | Sacred Heart Church]]
|-
| [[Hosur]] - Divine Nagar || 2013 || St. Therese of the Child Jesus
|-
| [[Hosur]] - Sipcot || 2000|| [[Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Hosur|Our Lady of Lourdes Church]]||St. Joseph, the worker Church, Dharga
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Kadagathur, Dharamapuri|Kadagathur]] || rowspan="3"| 1910 || rowspan="3"| [[Queen of Angels Church, Kadagathur|St. Mary's Church]]
|-
| Our Lady of Refuge Church, K.N.Savulur
|-
| St. Teresa of Baby Jesus Church, Kollagathur
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Kandikuppam]] || rowspan="5" | 1979 || rowspan="5" | [[Our Lady Of Queen Of Heaven Church, Kandikuppam|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, Kathanpallam|St. Joseph Church]]
|-
| [[Kaveripattinam, Krishnagiri|Kaveripattinam]] || 2009 || Our Lady of Peace Church
|-
| [[Kembathpalli, Krishnagiri district|Kembathpalli]] || 2023 || St. Xavier Church
|-
| [[Kelamangalam]] || 1996 || [[Sacred Heart Church, Kelamangalam|Sacred Heart Church]]
|-
| [[Kethanahalli, Dharmapuri|Kethanahalli]] || 2000 || [[St. Francis Xavier Church, Kethanahalli|St. Francis Xavier's Church]] || Our Lady of Good Health Church, Thumbalahalli Dam
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[Kovilur, Dharamapuri|Kovilur]] || rowspan="4" | 1856 || rowspan="4" | [[St. Francis Xavier Church, Kovilur|St. Xavier's Church]]
|-
| St. Antony's Church, Chittoor
|-
| Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Kottampatti
|-
| St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Narthampatti
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Krishnagiri]] ± || rowspan="4" | 1930 || rowspan="4" | [[Our Lady of Fatima Church, Krishnagiri|Our Lady of Fatima Shrine]]
|-
| St. Ignatius Of Loyala Church, Oldpet
|-
| St. Joseph Church, Periyarikodi
|-
| Sacred Heart Church, V.Madepalli
|-
| [[Madagondapalli|Mathagondapalli]] || 1930 || [[Sacred Heart Church, Madagondapalli|Sacred Heart Church]]
|-
| [[Mathigiri]] || 1926 || [[Our Lady of Good Health Church, Mathigiri|Our Lady of Good Health Church]] || Our Lady of Good Health Heritage Church, Kudhraipalayam
|-
| [[Nellimarathupatti, Dharmapuri|Nellimarathupatti]] || 2010 || [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Nellimarathupatti|Our Lady of Mt. Carmel]]
|-
| [[Onnalvadi]] || 2002 || Our Lady of Help Church || Our Lady of Velankanni Church, Chennathur
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Palakkodu|Palacode]] || rowspan="3"|1985 || rowspan="3"|[[Christ the King Church, Palacode|Christ the King Church]]
|-
| Our Lady of Velankanni Church, [[Savadiyur, Dharmapuri|Savadiyur]]
|-
| Our Lady of Assumption Church, Kesarkuli Dam
|-
| [[Pappireddipatti]] || 2002 || Our Lady of Velankanni Church
|-
| [[Poolapatti]] || 2010 || St. Sebastian's Church
|-
| [[Pushpagiri, Krishnagiri|Pushpagiri]] || 2015 || St. Therese of the Child Jesus || Our Lady of Garland of Flowers, Madha Malai
|-
| [[Rayakottai]] || 1999 || [[Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Rayakottai|Our Lady of Lourdes Church]] || Our Lady of Good Health Church, Panjampalli
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Selliampatti, Dharamapuri|Selliampatti]] || rowspan="5" | 2016 || rowspan="5" | Infant Jesus Church
|-
| St. Mary Magdalene Church, Gollapatti
|-
| St. Francis Xavier Church, Selliampatti
|-
| St. Joseph Church, Valan Nagar
|-
| St. Antony's Church, Anthoniyar Nagar
|-
| [[Sesurajapuram]] || 1979 || [[St. John de Britto Church, Sesurajapuram|John de Britto Church]] || Our Lady of Good Health Church, Arokiapuram
|-
| [[Shoolagiri]] || 2005 || [[Our Lady Of Velankanni Church, Shoolagiri|Our Lady of Velankanni Church]] || St. Antony Church, Kamaraj Nagar
|-
| [[Sollepuram, Saragapalli|Sollepuram]] || 2014 || Our Lady of Lourdes Church || St. Antony Church, Balagiri
|-
| [[Sundampatti, Krishnagiri district|Sundampatti]] || 1988 || [[St. Antony's Church, Sundampatti|St. Anthony of Padua Church]] || Vanathu Chinnapar Church, Soorankottai

|-
| [[Tangrakottai|Thenkaraikottai]] || 1952 || [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Thenkaraikottai|Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church]]
|-
| [[Uthangarai]] || 1982 || St. Antony's Church
|-
| [[Visuvasampatti]] || 1969 || Our Lady of Lourdes Church
|}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/dhar0.htm GCatholic.org] [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/ddhar.html Catholic Hierarchy] [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri}}{{RC Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore|state=collapsed}}{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|12|6|54.224|N|78|9|33.309|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharmapuri}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in India]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christianity in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic church buildings in the Diocese of Dharmapuri|#]]

Diocese of Dharmapuri - Revision history

Dranvesh: New new info