Syro-Malabar Diocese of

Sagar

India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Syro-Malabar

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sagar / Sagaren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Ujjain

Neighbouring Dioceses: Bhopal (↙), Gwalior (↑), Jhansi (↑), Satna (↗), Jabalpur (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus

History

1968.07.29: Established as Apostolic Exarchate of Sagar / Sagaren(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bhopal and became suffragan of Bhopal)
1973.04.03: Gained territory from Diocese of Ajmer–Jaipur
1977.02.26: Promoted as Diocese of Sagar / Sagaren(sis) (Latin)
2025.08.28: Gained territory from Diocese of Shamshabad and became suffragan of Ujjain

Present Prelates

Bishop (2018.01.12 – ...):

Bishop James Athikalam, M.S.T. (68)

Superior General of Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sagar (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Bishop James Athikalam, M.S.T. (68)
(2018.01.12 – ...)

Bishop of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India)
Superior General of Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle

Witness in love

Born:	1958.07.05 (Pulinkunnu, India)
Ordained Priest:	1984.03.22
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.04.17

Superior General of Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle (? – ...)

Bishop of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2018.01.12 – ...)

Bishop Anthony Chirayath (85)
(2006.02.02 – 2018.01.12)

Bishop emeritus of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India)

To love and serve

Born:	1941.07.30 (Aranattukara, India)
Ordained Priest:	1970.01.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.03.25

Priest of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1970.01.02 – 2006.02.02)

Chaplain of His Holiness (1978.06.14 – 1994.12.19)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (1994.12.19 – 2003.11.28)

Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary (2003.11.28 – 2006.02.02)

Bishop of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2006.02.02 – 2018.01.12)

Bishop Joseph Pastor Neelankavil, C.M.I.
(1986.12.20 – 2006.02.02)

For Peter and people

Born:	1930.03.19 (Aranattukara, India)
Ordained Priest:	1960.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.02.22
Died:	2021.02.17 (Sagar, India † 90)

Bishop of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1986.12.20 – 2006.02.02)

Religious of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. Died of COVID-19.

Bishop Clement Thottungal, C.M.I.
(1977.02.26 – 1986.12.20)

Born:	1909.04.16 (Kandassankadavu, India)
Ordained Priest:	1938.11.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.04.25
Died:	1991.09.15 († 82)

Apostolic Exarch of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1968.07.29 – 1977.02.26)

Bishop of Sagar of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1977.02.26 – 1986.12.20)

Apostolic Exarchs of Sagar (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Fr. Clement Thottungal, C.M.I. (later Bishop)
(1968.07.29 – 1977.02.26)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal (↙), Gwalior (↑), Jhansi (↑), Satna (↗), Jabalpur (↘)

Statistics (2025)

Area: 131,268 km²

Population: 4,925 Catholics (0.0% of 26,672,560 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes, 36 missions

Personnel: 69 priests (54 diocesan, 15 religious), 313 religious (18 brothers, 295 sisters), 15 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.10.06

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