Erected as an Apostolic Vicariate, separating from the Diocese of Colombo in 1845, which is now a suffragan Diocese. In 1886, it was promoted as the Diocese of Jaffna. This diocese was made out of the present Diocese of Jaffna, Diocese of Trincomalee, Diocese of Batticaloa, Diocese of Anuradhapura and the Diocese of Mannar.
Ordinary
- Most Rev. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam
Diocesan Director of Education
- Rev. Fr. Xavier Winstou James
Notable Schools
| Name | Year | Location | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Family Convent | 1845 | Jaffna | 175 |
| St. Patrick’s College | 1850 | Jaffna | 170 |
| St. Anthony’s College | 1872 | Kayts | 148 |
| St. Henry’s College | 1877 | Illawalai | 143 |
Bishops
- Most Rev. Dr. Orazio Bettacchini OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1849 – 1957
St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna
- Most Rev. Dr. John Semeria OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1857 – 1868
St. Mary’s College, Trincomalee
St. Joseph’s College, Trincomalee
- Most Rev. Dr. Christopher Bonjean OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1868 – 1883
St. Xavier’s College, Mannar
St. Anthony’s College, Kayts
St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa
St. Henry’s College, Illawalai
Holy Family Convent, Anuradhapura
- Most Rev. Dr. Andrew Melizan OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1883 -1893
No prominent schools
- Most Rev. Dr. Henri Joulain OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1893 – 1919
St. Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura
- Most Rev. Dr. Juless-Andrew Brault OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1919 -1923
- Most Rev. Dr. Alfred John Guyomard OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1924 – 1950
- Most Rev. Dr. Jerome Emilianuspilai OMI, Bishop of Jaffna from 1950 -1972
- Most Rev. Dr. Baaastianpillai Deogupillai, Bishop of Jaffna from 1972 -1992
- Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Savundranayagam, Bishop of Jaffna from 1992 – 2015
- Most Rev. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam, Bishop of Faffna from 2015 –
