The diocese of Shamshabad was erected on 10th October 2017 by His Holiness Pope Francis. The new diocese was inagurated on 7th January 2018. Pope appointed Mar Raphael Thattil as the first bishop of Shamshabad. It is the largest diocese in India. Diocese of Shamshabad shares its boundary with 75 dioceses. The eparchy is dedicated to St. Thomas, the apostle and its co patron is St. John Paul II. Shamshabad diocese covers 23 states and 4 union territoires including 2 islands.
The territory of the new eparchy is vast: it includes the entire country of India not already included in existing eparchies. The pastoral life of the territory is already quite organised thanks in particular to the ministry of the aspotolic visitor, Msgr. Raphael Thattil, now the first bishop of Shamshabad. The Syro-Malabar communities are formed in their own traditions, especially with regard to the liturgy and catechesis. There are 88 priests working, both eparchial and religious.
The see of Shamshabad is located 50 km from Hyderabad, in the state of Telangana, where there are 500 Syro-Malabar families. Awaiting the completion of the Cathedral, the pro-Cathedral will be Saint Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kukatpally, near Hyderabad. For the moment there will also be the Chancellery and the bishop’s residence.
The Syro-Malabar Church has
- 5 Archeparchies, 30Eparchies and 2 Apostolic Visitations.(Total 35+2=37)
- 18 of them (5 Archeparchies and 13 Eparchies) in 'Canonical Territory' (Kerala, and parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) and under the proper jurisdiction of the Major Archbishop
- 9 Eparchies in various Indian states with exclusive Syro-Malabar jurisdiction.
- 4 Eparchies - Kalyan, Faridabad, Hosur and shamshabad in India - where there are multiple jurisdictions.
- 4 Eparchies for Syro-Malabar faithful in USA, Australia, Great Britain and Canada
- 2 Apostolic Visitations – 1. Europe and 2. New Zealand
Source: http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/diocese_details.php?id=12245
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