The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri (Latin: Dharmapurien(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Dharmapuri in the ecclesiastical province of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in India. This Diocese administrate the political region of Dharmapuri district and Krishnagiri district.^[1]

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Quick Facts Diocese of DharmapuriDioecesis Dharmapuriensis தர்மாபுரி மறைமாவட்டம், Catholic ...

Diocese of Dharmapuri Dioecesis Dharmapuriensis தர்மாபுரி மறைமாவட்டம்
Catholic
Location
Country	India
Ecclesiastical province	Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Metropolitan	Pondicherry and Cuddalore
Deaneries	5
Statistics
Area	9,622 km2 (3,715 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2013) 3,386,631 52,169 (1.8%)
Parishes	45
Churches	57
Information
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	1997
Cathedral	Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dharmapuri
Language	Tamil
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Lawrence Pius Dorairaj
Metropolitan Archbishop	Francis Kalist
Vicar General	A. Ambrose
Website
www.dharmapuridiocese.org

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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 Robert De Nobili, followed by the Portuguese Jesuits of 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 and 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 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 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 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.^[2]

• Bishops of Dharmapuri (Latin Rite)
  • Joseph Anthony Irudayaraj (24 January 1997 – 13 January 2012)
  • Lawrence Pius Dorairaj (since 13 January 2012)^[3]

This diocese has 45 Parish,^[4] which are bifurcated under 5 Vicariates^[5]

± = also Vicariate parish