OUR Concerns
Evangelization:
Having received the good news through the untiring efforts of the missionaries from Europe, the vibrant missionary Diocese of Kottar has the proclamation of the Gospel as its central concern.
All our activities, both at the diocesan and parish level, are geared to deepening the faith-life of the Christians, and sharing the Gospel with the non-Christians, especially through Basic Christian (Ecclesial) Communities in all villages of the Diocese.
There are 161 parishes with resident priests and each parish has an average of four mission churches. Trained catechists, various associations, organizations and other apostolic movements are actively participating in this evangelization process.
All the parishes are engaged in evaluating themselves and drawing up a pastoral plan.
VOCATIONS:
Kottar Diocese is blessed with numerous vocations to priesthood and religious life. Every year about one hundred young men and women respond to the call of the Lord to serve in Kottar Diocese and in other parts of the country as missionaries.
Tamil Nadu Xavier Mission Home, a Tamil Nadu regional institution, Nagercoil in Kottar Diocese, fosters missionary vocation and sends candidates to serve as missionaries in the northern and eastern dioceses of India.
Bishops Thomas Aquinas of Coimbatore and Maria Calist of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh are among the many missionaries from Kottar engaged in preaching the gospel in other parts of Tamil Nadu and India.
The diocese had about 157 seminarians and the majority of them are in various major seminaries. Every year about 12 to 15 men are ordained to the priesthood for the diocese of Kottar.
The aid received from Rome is not enough to support the education of the seminarians and the families are too poor to educate them. The diocese has to spend about Rs.2760 (US$ 60.00) every month on each candidate for priesthood. A gift of a dollar a day could help towards the education of a student for priesthood in Kottar diocese.
The Bishop (The diocese) has also the responsibility of maintaining 266 priests, both active and retired, of the Diocese. Many of the parishes are financially unable to support their pastors. The bishop needs about $1000.00(Rs.46000) every year as additional help for each priest.
Education
Kottar Diocese has given much importance to education both at the elementary school level and higher levels to improve the lot of the people. Though the Government pays the salary of the teachers and the non-teaching staff, the Diocese has to find funds to construct new school buildings or renovate the existing ones. The schools established or upgraded after 1991 are denied this aid. This has created a big added burden on the diocese
INSTITUTIONS |
DIOCESAN |
RELIGIOUS |
TOTAL |
BOYS |
GIRLS |
TOTAL |
| Primary Schools |
58 |
27 |
85 |
13,154 |
15,376 |
28,530 |
| Middle Schools |
25 |
11 |
36 |
6,110 |
8,119 |
14,229 |
| High Schools |
21 |
21 |
42 |
7,945 |
13,481 |
21,426 |
| Higher Secondary Schools |
18 |
18 |
36 |
17,141 |
20,975 |
38,116 |
| Technical Training Schools |
02 |
00 |
02 |
379 |
95 |
474 |
| Polytechnic |
01 |
|
01 |
1,105 |
135 |
1,240 |
Community
College |
01 |
02 |
03 |
31 |
60 |
91 |
| Engineering College |
01 |
-- |
01 |
960 |
864 |
1,824 |
| T.T.C |
01 |
01 |
02 |
|
257 |
257 |
| B.Ed. College |
01 |
|
01 |
10 |
90 |
100 |
| Nursing College |
01 |
|
01 |
26 |
119 |
145 |
| College (Holy Cross) |
|
01 |
01 |
|
1,700 |
1,700 |
Socio - Economic Developement:
As most of our people are either fishermen or farmers, working in other's farms, their income is unsteady. Poverty and unemployment make them easy targets of exploitation.
The Diocese faces challenges also in the area of housing, sanitation, protected drinking water, employment and ensuring better hygienic conditions.
The Diocese tries to respond to such challenges through its social action wing: Kottar Social Service Society and Kuzhithurai Integral Development Social Services. Here are some of their involvement programmes.
» Kaikal Women Self Confidence Programme
» Dalit Delopment Programme
» Coastal Peace and Development
» Inland Fisher People's Organisation.
» Rural Motivation Programme
» Community Health Development Programme
» Promotion of Self Reliant and Self Sustaining People's Federation
» Save a family Programme
» Short Stay Home
» Family Units
» St. Lawrence Technical Training Centre
» St. Joseph's Catholic Industrial School, Kadiapattanam
» St. Mary's Community College
» Boat Building Centre, Muttom
» Nanjil Milk Plant
» Carpentary Unit
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