Erection of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai (India) and appointment of the first Bishop
The Holy Father erected the new diocese of Kuzhithurai (India) with territory taken from the Diocese of Kottar, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Madurai, and appointed the first Bishop of the Kuzhithurai Rev.do P. Jerome Dhas Varuvel, SDB, Director of Novices .
Statistical Data
Kottar Kottar before division after division Kuzhithurai sq km area. 1,665 750 915 885 865 855 485
Inhabitants 1.74135 million Catholics 524 706 260 484 264 222 181 81 100 Parishes Mission Stations 171 48 123 294 193 101
Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Religious Brothers 67 37 30 14 12 2 738 471 267 Religious Seminarians 166 93 73
The new diocese of Kuzhithurai (nom. lat. Kuzhithuraien / sis /), bordered to the north and northeast with the Diocese of Palayamkottai; to the east and south with the diocese of Kottar-mother; south-west by the Indian Ocean; and to the west with the Archdiocese of Trivandrum and the Diocese of Neyyattinkara (in the State of Kerala). The Cathedral is the church based in Thirithuvapuram, Kuzhithurai, dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Rev.do P. Jerome Dhas Varuvel, S.D.B.
He attended Carmel Secondary School in Nagercoil. From 1967 to 1968 he followed the pre-university course at the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil.
From 1968 to 1970 he attended the minor seminary at St. Aloysius Seminary in Nagercoil. He studied philosophy at Sacred Heart Seminary in Poonamallee (1970-1973). In 1976 he decided to join the Salesians of Don Bosco.
After completing the pre-novitiate (1976-1977) and novitiate (1977-1978), made his religious profession temporary 24 May 1978.
On 24 May 1981 he made his perpetual vows. From 1981 to 1986 he studied theology at the Salesians in Rome.
He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and in Theology and a Licentiate in Pedagogy at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
He was ordained priest by St. John Paul II on 2 June 1985. It belongs to the Salesian Province of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
After ordination he held the following positions:
1985-1986: Completion of studies at the Pontifical Salesian University (Rome);
1986-1990: Vice-Rector of the Novitiate in Vellakinar;
1990-1992: Rector of the Pre-Novitiate in Tirupattur;
1992-1994: Rector of the Pre-Novitiate in Maiyam;
1994-1996: Dean of Student Salesian Trichy;
1996-2001: Pastor-Rector of the Con-Cathedral of Madras-Mylapore;
1999-2003: Provincial Councillor;
2001-2002: Director of Kalvi Attics of Tirupattur;
2002-2003: Director of Kalvi Attics Ennore;
2003-2010: Director of Mount Don Bosco in Thalavadi.
Since 2010 he is Director of Novices at Yeallagiri Hills, Diocese of Vellore.
