Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne

The St. Thomas the Apostle Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of Melbourne is an Eastern Catholic eparchy for Syro-Malabar Catholics in Australia. The eparchy (diocese) was erected by Pope Francis on 11 January 2014. This is the second eparchy of the Syro-Malabar Church outside India, after the Eparchy of Chicago, and it has jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar Catholics in the entirety of Australia.[1]

Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne (Syro-Malabar)
Location
CountryAustralia
Information
Sui iuris churchSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
RiteEast Syriac Rite
Established11 January 2014
CathedralSt. Alphonsa Cathedral
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Major ArchbishopGeorge Alencherry
EparchBosco Puthur
Website
http://syromalabar.org.au

It is not part of any ecclesiastical province, but immediately subject to the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly and depends on the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches. Its ordinary is also appointed permanent Apostolic Visitator for the Syro-Malabar Catholics in New Zealand, where they have no proper jurisdiction. Its future cathedral episcopal see is the Cathedral of St. Alphonsa in Melbourne, Victoria.

History

The eparchy was established on 2013.12.23 as Diocese (without previous missionary stage) of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne, on Australian territory previously without jurisdiction of the Syro-Malabar rite.

Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 50,000 Catholics with 17 priests (5 diocesan, 12 religious), 12 lay religious (brothers).

Ordinaries
Eparchs (Bishops)

The first and current bishop of the eparchy is Bosco Puthur, appointed by Pope Francis in 2014, [2] born in India 1946.05.28, ordained Priest 1971.03.27, consecrated Bishop 2010.02.13; previously Titular Bishop of Foratiana (2010.01.18 – 2013.12.23) as Bishop of Curia of the Syro-Malabars (2010.01.18 – 2013.12.23); permanent Apostolic Visitator to Syro-Malabar Faithful in New Zealand.

See also
  • Roman Catholicism in Australia

References
  1. New Syro Malabar Eparchy for Australia
  2. Pope Francis erects New Syro-Malabar Diocese in Australia with Bishop Puthur
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