In 1329 Pope John XXII (in captivity in Avignon)erected Quilon as the first Diocese in the whole of indies as suffragan to the Archdiocese of Sultany in Persia through the decree "Romanus pontifix" dated 9th August 1329.By a seperate Bull "Venerabili Fratri Jordano",the same Pope,on August 21,1329 appointed the French Dominican Friar Jordanus Catalani of Serverac as the first Bishop of Quilon.

It is worth noting that Quilon is the only city where both the Apostle St.Thomas and the great missionary of the East St.Francis Xavier spread the Gospel of Christ.

“The missionary activity of the Church is the symbol of her spiritual growth and spiritual zeal. Our firm faith in Jesus and in the Church makes us more and more missionaries. Our Lord Jesus the Messiah incarnated into this world, suffered and died, not for any particular nation nor for a specific time nor for a special people, but for all the people of every time and of every nation. Therefore Salvation is for all people and the obligation to proclaim this salvation to all people binds us all”.  Rt. Rev. Jerome M. Fernandez