Pope Francis has created in India the new Diocese of Kuzhithurai, with territory taken from the Diocese of Kottar.
The new diocese is a suffragan of the metropolitan Church of Madurai.
It has some 265,000 Catholics served by just over 130 priests and around 270 religious.
The Holy Father appointed Salesian Fr. Jerome Dhas Varuvel as first bishop of the new diocese.
Jerome Dhas Varuvel was born in Paduvoor, India, in 1951. He took his perpetual vows in 1981, and was ordained a priest in 1985. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and theology, and a licentiate in education from the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome, and has served in a number of roles, including vice rector of the novitiate in Vellakinar, rector of the pre-novitiate in Tirupattur and Maiyam, dean of the Salesian student body in Trichy, parish priest and rector of the co-Cathedral of Madras-Mylapore, provincial counsellor, director of Kalvi Solai in Tirupattur and in Ennore, and director of Mount Don Bosco in Thalavadi.
He is currently master of novices in Yeallagiri Hills, Vellore.
