Diocese of Kumbakonam

The Diocese of Kumbakonam was canonically erected on 1 September 1899, carved out from the Archdiocese of Pondicherry, and was entrusted to the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP). The first bishop was Most Rev. Hugo M. Bottero, a Tamil scholar who translated the entire Bible into Tamil. He was succeeded in 1913 by Most Rev. Marie-Augustine Chapuis, MEP, who encouraged indigenous vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In 1931, Most Rev. Peter Francis became the first Indian bishop and expanded mission stations at places like Ariyalur, Kulumur, and Thiruvalanthurai, also overseeing a period of rapid growth in clergy and institutions. In 1955, Most Rev. D. Paul Arulsamy was appointed bishop, promoting renewal in liturgy, catechesis, and pastoral ministry, in line with Vatican II, and founded a Pastoral Centre in 1979. After his retirement, Msgr. M. Antony David served as administrator until Most Rev. Peter Remigius was appointed in 1990; under him the Shrine of Our Lady of Miraculous Mother of Poondi was raised to a Marian Minor Basilica, and educational and pastoral infrastructures were strengthened. On 31 May 2008, Most Rev. Antonisamy Francis was appointed bishop, under whose leadership the diocesan pastoral council was renewed, diocesan statutes updated, and education systems reformed to provide higher professional and spiritual formation