Syro-Malabar Diocese of

Palai

India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Syro-Malabar

Type: Diocese

Area: 1,166 km²

Population: 334,610 Catholics (42.8% of 781,600 total) (2018)

Statistics: 170 parishes, 2 missions, 542 priests (393 diocesan, 149 religious), 3,440 lay religious (243 brothers, 3,197 sisters), 96 seminarians (2018)

Ecclesiastical Province: Changanacherry

Neighbouring Dioceses: Changanacherry (↙), Ernakulam–Angamaly (↖), Kothamangalam (↑), Idukki (↗), Kanjirapally (↘)

Depends on: Congregation for the Oriental Churches

Patron Saint: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Thomas

Website:

History

1950.07.25: Established as Diocese of Palai / Pala / Palaien(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Changanacherry)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala, Kerala

Changanacherry (↙), Ernakulam–Angamaly (↖), Kothamangalam (↑), Idukki (↗), Kanjirapally (↘)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2004.03.18 – ...):	Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt (64)
Auxiliary Bishop (2012.08.24 – ...):	Bishop Jacob Muricken (58) Titular Bishop of Thinis

Ordinaries

Bishops of Palai (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt (64)
(2004.03.18 – ...)

Bishop of Palai of the Syro-Malabars (India)

Born:	1956.11.29 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1982.01.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.05.02

Bishop of Palai of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2004.03.18 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Pallikaparampil (94)
(1981.02.06 – 2004.03.18)

Bishop emeritus of Palai of the Syro-Malabars (India)

Born:	1927.04.10 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1958.11.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.08.15

Titular Bishop of Abydus (1973.06.16 – 1981.02.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of Palai of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1973.06.16 – 1981.02.06)

Bishop of Palai of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1981.02.06 – 2004.03.18)

Bishop Sebastian Vayalil
(1950.07.25 – 1981)

Born:	1906.01.28 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1935.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.11.09
Died:	1986.11.21 († 80)

Bishop of Palai of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1950.07.25 – 1981)

Founder of Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle (1968.02.22)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Pallikaparampil (94) (1973.06.16 – 1981.02.06)

as of 2021.06.22