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Although
Christian communities existed in South Kerala from the
beginning of Christianity, North Kerala known as Malabar had
to wait long for the advent of the European missionaries to
start their evangelisation until the 16th century. It was with the
advent of the Portuguese sailor, Vasco de Gama who landed here on
20th May 1498, that the missionaries had access to this area. Fr.
Pedro de Kovilaham, the first missionary who came to Malabar with
Vasco de Gama died on 31st July 1498. As the Portuguese traders
could not get along with the ruler of Calicut, “the Zamorin”, they
moved to Kannur and the “Kolathiri”, king of Kannur welcomed
them.
The four Franciscan missionaries with Hovavo Nova, their group
leader were allowed to build a chapel in Kannur. (This is the
place where the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Diocese of Kannur
is situated). In 1505, the Portuguese Viceroy, Francis de
Almeida, established the famous fort of St. Angelos and built the
church of St. James there.
Visit of
St. Francis Xavier :- The archives of the Society of
Jesus in Rome testify that St.Francis Xavier, the patron of
missions visited Kannur on 24th December 1542 and also on 7th
November 1549.
Expansion of Malabar Mission: - Several
Portuguese colonies were formed in the 16th century along the
coastal belt of the Arabian Sea. A church was built by Dominge
Rodrigues in Tellicherry for the Christians there. When the
British East India company established the Tellicherry Fort in
1708, the Jesuit fathers renovated this church. Fr.Dominic OCD in
1736 established a church in Mahe to look after the spiritual
needs of the French Catholics settled there. This church came to
be known “the Shrine of Mahe’’, or the Shrine of St. Theresa of
Avila. In 1807, St. Michael’s School was established for the
education of boys and in 1871 St. Teresa’s School for girls in
Kannur was started by the Apostolic Carmelites. In the 1920’s Fr.
Faustine Aranha, began his work among the ‘Dalits’ of the
Kanhangad region.
Diocese
of Calicut: - In 1878 with the handing over of South
Kanara and Malabar region to the Jesuits of the Venice Province,
the mission involvement of the area took a new turn.On 12th June,
1923 some parts of Malabar which belonged to the Diocese of
Mangalore were separated and the new Diocese of Calicut was
established. There were about 6000 Catholics and 16 Priests,
spread out in Calicut, Tellicherry, Kannur, Vythiri,and
Mananthavady. There were 50 sisters in three convents and 12
educational institutions. The Diocese of Calicut made strides in
progress under its holy and able Prelates Paul Perini, Leo
Proserpio, Aldo Maria Patroni and Maxwell Noronha. In 1998 the
Catholics increased tenfold to about 60,000. There were 169
priests, 1174 sisters in 105 convents and 245 educational
institutions.
Chirakal
Mission :- Under the patronage of Bishop Leo Proserpio,
in 1937, Fr. Peter Caironi S.J started his mission among the
Pulayas. This marginalised community was given proper housing
facilities, education and the possibility of a more human
existence. Fathers John Sequeira, Joseph Taffrel S.J, James
Monthanari S.J, Aloysius Del Zotto S.J, Michael Vendramin S.J had
tried hard to evangelize this area. Fr. Linus Zucol S.J, who
continues to work in this area has become a mission legend . These
missionaries were supported by the Canossian sisters under mother
Antoneitta Sala, the Deena Sevana Sabha founded by Mother Petra
,the Ursulines and the others. Consequently, we have today about
35,501 Catholics spread over 51 parishes and 21 mission stations,
in the two revenue districts of Kannur and Kasaragod.
Diocese
of Kannur :- The diocese of Calicut was spread out to an
area of 13051 Sq.Kms. in six revenue districts. In the context of
such an extensive area there was the need of a new diocese for the
benefit of the faithful. Bishop Maxwell Noronha, in consultation
with the priests, religious and the laity requested the Holy See
to establish the new diocese of Kannur.
The Holy Father,
Pope John Paul II by the Apostolic Brief, dated 5th November 1998,
created the Diocese of Kannur from the Diocese of Calicut. On the
same day Rt.Rev. Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal who was a professor at
St.Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore, and a priest of the diocese of
Calicut, was elected the Bishop of Kannur and the Bishop elect was
consecrated on 7th February 1999 and he took charge of the diocese
on 8th February 1999. The Bishop has taken as his motto “according
to your will” “Daivathirumanassinu Vidheyathuvam”.
The new diocese
comprises the territory of the civil district of Kannur to the
north of Mahe river, excluding Pallur, Chelakara, Panthakal and
Chenkallai which belong to the municipality of Mahe and the
territory of the civil district of Kasaragod which falls to the
south of Chandragiri river. The erection of this new diocese was a
historical event for Kannur which has 500 years of Christian
tradition. The establishment of the new diocese on the auspicious
occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of the Diocese of Calicut was
welcomed with cheer, by the people who consider the diocese of
Kannur as a gift of God to this region.
Area of the
Diocese : 4988 Sq. Kilometers
Total Population : 40,37,203 ( Census 2006)
Catholic Population : 38,500
Address:
Bishop of Kannur,
Bishop’s House, Chovva,
Kannur - 670 006. Kerala, India.
Tel. (O): +91 497 - 2729977, 2729988, 2768800 (P),Fax (P): +91 497 - 2768877
E-mail : mailto:cnn_diocese@sancharnet.in, kannurdiocese@vsnl.com
Website:
http://www.kannurdiocese.com
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