About TNBC and TNLBC

Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC) is the official organization of Tamil Nadu Catholic Bishops and it comprises two States: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (Pondicherry). The Bishops of these two States have established from 1975 the “Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC)” for collaboration and common planning for pastoral ministry in this region. Some years back four oriental dioceses were erected in Tamil Nadu and those bishops were invited to participate in TNBC meetings. In the beginning they participated as observers but now they participate as members.

Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council (TNBC) comprises all the 18 dioceses of Latin Ecclesiastical Provinces of Madras-Mylapore, Madurai, Pondicherry-Cuddalore and 4 dioceses of the Oriental Rites – 3 Syro-Malabar dioceses and 1 Syro-Malankara diocese in Tamil Nadu.

TNBC has its own Secretariate at Santhome, Chennai with Deputy Secretary as its Director. It has 18 Regional Commissions, 9 Regional Centres, 2 Councils, 1 Conference and 3 Special Ministries. All the Regional Commissions, the three Special Ministries and the two Councils have full time Secretaries; all the Centres have full time Directors and the one Conference has part-time Secretary. The offices of regional commissions and the councils are situated in Chennai, Dindivanam and Trichy.

The Deputy Secretary General coordinates the ministries of all these commissions and councils and he is responsible for organising the annual and half-yearly meetings of TNBC in various places of Tamil Nadu.