Calicut diocese came into existence
on 12th June 1923. Established by Holy Father Pope Pius XI
of happy memory separating Malabar from the Diocese of Mangalore
and Wayanad from the Diocese of Mysore, it was spread out
into the six Districts of North Kerala extending from Shoranur
to Kasargod. People of different culture, language and heredity,
the descendants of Europeans, Portuguese, Dutch, French and
British, Anglo- Indians, Konkani speaking settlers from Goa
and Mangalore, Tamilians who came in seeking job opportunities,
Tribals who were converted to Christianity, Dalit Christians,
natives of the place, orthodox Christians who were accepted
into the Catholic fold, Marthomites, Protestants and Latin
Catholics who came from other dioceses belonged to this diocese.
The period from 1926 saw the immigration of Syrian Catholics
from Travancore and they settled down along the high ranges
of the western ghats and its vallies along the Malabar area.
They were welcomed and looked after by the Diocese of Calicut
till the formation of the Diocese of Tellicherry in the year
1954. The Diocesan priests and the Jesuit fathers in Calicut
Diocese rendered valuable and whole hearted support to these
Syrian Catholics to acquire land at low costs and saw to their
all around development in spiritual, social, educational,
cultural and financial conditions. Health care and free medical
facilities were made available to these people who were attacked
by malaria and other contagious diseases. In the fields of
education, culture, social commitment and inter-religious
dialogue Calicut Diocese holds high influence in the city
of Calicut, the cultural centre and capital of North Kerala. |
EVANGELIZATION IN MALABAR.
Though the Diocese was erected as the 25th Diocese in India,
and has completed just 81 years Catholic Church in Malabar
has a long history of about 500 years. There are no evidences
to show that a catholic community lived in North Malabar
before that. When Vasco-De-Gama landed in Kappad beach in
Calicut on 20th May 1498. There was with him Rev. Fr. Pedro
De Covilam, a member of the Trinitarian Religious Order.
While Vasco-Da-Gama was settling trade relationship with
the Zamorin Raja of Kozhikode Rev Covilam did the work of
Evangelization. It was recorded by a Co-traveller Alvaro
Wehoe, in his diary. The historians like Fr. De Feroli had
pointed out that the First missionary of Malabar Rev. Fr.
Covilam died on July 31st 1498.
Along with Navy Captain Alvares Cabral there were eight
(8) Franciscan Priests and eight (8) Diocesan priests and
they landed in Calicut on 13th September 1500 . The Zamorin
then reigning in Kozhikode gave permission to the Portuguese
to build store houses along the shore and also allowed the
missionaries to have evangelization in his territory. In
Calicut the missionaries converted a Brahmin to Catholic
religion giving him the name Michael De Sancta Maria. He
was the first converted Catholic in Malabar. On 16th December
1500 about fifty (50) Portuguese men were got killed in
a clash between the Portuguese and the Zamorins and their
store house were destroyed. During this fight Rev. Fr. Gasper,
Pedro Netto and the Masse were killed.
In the year 1501. under the leadership of Joao De Nova the
Portuguese Naval Company reached Kannur. The Raja of Kolathiri(Kannur)
gave them a warm reception and permitted the four missionaries
who were in the group to do the work of evangelizaiton there.
It was in the year 1501 that the first Catholic Church was
built in Kannur in North Malabar. The records show that
in the year 1504 four bishops of the Eastern Syrian Church
who came along with the Portuguese from Persia offered sacrifices
in this chapel.
The Portuguese Viceroy Francis Seseo De Almeida built the
famous St. Angelo Fort in Kannur and along with it he got
ready St. James Chapel inside the fort in the year 1505.
There were 344 (three hundred and forty four) Catholics
in Kannur in the year 1514. It was found recorded among
the Archeological collection preserved in the Palace of
Lisbon. In the year 1516 Alphonse -de- Albuqarque built
a godown and a chapel on the shore of the Kallai river in
Calicut. The vicar of this church was Rev. Fr. Diego Moroeas.
Vettathuraja of Tanur gave permission to build a church
at Chaliam. St. Francis Xavier visited Kannur on 25th December
in 1543 and Calicut on 7th March 1549.
It was the Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinian religious
Priests who served in Malabar are during the 16th Century.
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