History

Welcome to the Diocese of Chingleput 

The Diocese of Chingleput is made out of the entire civil district of Kancheepuram in the State of Tamil Nadu, India. The diocese of Chengleput when carved out from the Archdiocese of Madras Mylapore had 64 parishes and has grown over the years to 107 parishes along with 3 independent shrines viz. St. Thomas National Shrine , Mazhai Malai Madha Shrine and Divine Mercy Shrine . 

Chengleput was declared as an independent new diocese by His Holiness late John Paul II on the 19th July 2002. Preparations for the carving out the new diocesan territory was initiated in 1987 by Most Rev. Dr. G. Casimir Gnanathikam SJ, the then Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Madras Mylapore. The bifurcation became a reality   during the tenure of Most Rev. Dr. Arul Das James, the then Archbishop of Madras Mylapore in succession. 

Most. Rev. Dr. A. Neethinathan, was appointed as the first Bishop of Chingleput and continue to carry out the pastoral ministry with the help of 146 diocesan priests, 70 religious priests and 72 religious congregations. 

The diocese is the home for historically renowned St. Thomas Mount Shrine where Apostle Thomas was martyred and the shrine of the Miraculous Mother Mary – Mazhai Malai Madha at Acharapakkam. The diocese is guided by St.Joseph the Worker as Chief Patron, Arokia Mazhai Malai Madha as secondary patroness and St.Thomas as its special patron. 

Spread across an area of 4,394.39 Sq Kms the diocese has Catholic population of 1,49,872. 

  

Vision 

‘Realization of the Kingdom dream of Jesus that all of us must live and live to the full’ (Jn. 10:10). 

The vision statement was developed following an extensive consultative process that includes  Diocesan level survey, the suggestions from various groups and the action plan proposed by Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Conference for an Integrated Development of Dalit Christians. 

Modelling ourselves on the pattern of the early Church, we who make the diocese of Chingleput, shall continue to journey together as a community of love and justice seeking “Fullness Of Life Through Justice”.