His Holiness Pope John Paul II erected the diocese of Thamarassery on April 28, 1986 by the Bull "Constat Non Modo" bifurcating the diocese of Tellicherry. The new diocese consists of the two revenue districts of Calicut and Malappuram.
Bishop Sebastian Mankuzhikary, Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam was appointed the first Bishop of Thamarassery on the same day by the Bull "Pro Munere Nostro de Singulis". The Diocese was formally inaugurated and the Bishop took charge on the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle of India, July 3, 1986 at the Sacred Heart Church, Thiruvambady.
Bp. Sebastian Mankuzhikary died on June 11,1994. Bp. Jacob Thoomkuzhy from Mananthavady was transferred to Thamarassery and he took charge on July 28, 1995. When he was made the Archbishop of Trichur, Bp. Paul Chittilapilly from Kalyan took charge of the diocese on February 13, 1997. |
