Diocese of Ootacamund
About
The Diocese of Ootacamund was established on 3 July 1955 by Pope Pius XII through the Apostolic Constitution Nuntiatur in Psalmis, after being separated from the Diocese of Mysore, to which it belonged from 1941. It covers the Nilgiris district and the northern part of Erode district, spanning 7,312 sq. km with a population of over two million, including 90,864 Catholics. Its roots trace back to the Paris Foreign Mission Fathers, who began serving the region in the early 19th century, building the first chapel in Ooty in 1842 as the Christian community steadily grew. Over time, administrative shifts—from Coimbatore to Mysore—eventually led to the formation of the new diocese due to linguistic, cultural and geographical challenges. Blessed with the Nilgiri, Talavady and Gundri hills, and the fertile Sathyamangalam plains, the diocese is known for its rich natural beauty, diverse climate, and agricultural abundance. Spread across the borders of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, Ootacamund stands as a symbol of national integration where Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and English-speaking communities worship together, including various tribal groups whose cultures enrich the life of the diocese.
