The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada ( la, Viiayavadan(us)) is a
diocese
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associa ...
located in the city of
Vijayawada
Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is a part of the state's Capital Region. It is the administrative headquarters of the NTR district. Its metropolitan region comprises N ...
in the
Ecclesiastical province
An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of seve ...
of
Visakhapatnam
, image_alt =
, image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura submarine museu ...
in India. Administratively, the diocese encompasses the geographical
Krishna district of the state of
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...
. The
Diocese of Vijayawada
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada ( la, Viiayavadan(us)) is a diocese located in the city of Vijayawada in the Ecclesiastical province of Visakhapatnam in India. Administratively, the diocese encompasses the geographical Krishna distri ...
has the largest catholic population(.35 million) among all the Suffragan dioceses of the
Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.
History
* 10 January 1933: Established as
Mission “sui iuris” of Bezwada from the
Diocese of Hyderabad
* 13 April 1937: Promoted as Diocese of Bezwada
* 21 October 1950: Renamed as Diocese of Vijayawada
Diocesan demographics
As of 2017 the Catholic population of the diocese was 3,50,000. These Catholics were served by 189 diocesan priests and 32 priests of religious orders in 98 parishes. Also laboring in the diocese were 37 religious brothers, and 795 nuns
Leadership
* Bishop
Thelagathoti J. Raja Rao,
S.M.M. (2 February 2016 – Present)
* Bishop
Prakash Mallavarapu (26 July 2002 – 3 July 2012); named Metropolitan Archbishop of Visakhapatnam
* Bishop
Marampudi Joji (Later Archbishop) (8 November 1996 – 29 January 2000)
* Bishop
Joseph S. Thumma (23 January 1971 – 8 November 1996)
* Bishop
Ambrose De Battista
Ambrose of Milan ( la, Aurelius Ambrosius; ), venerated as Saint Ambrose, ; lmo, Sant Ambroeus . was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promot ...
,
P.I.M.E. (13 December 1951 – 23 January 1971)
Parishes
Shrines
*
Gunadala Matha Shrine
Gunadala Matha Shrine (also: ''Our Lady of Lourdes'' or ''Mary Matha Church''), located in the city of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, is a renowned Catholic pilgrimage site attracting approximately 10 lakh devotees during its annual festival. It is ...
* Br Joseph Thamby Shrine Avutapally
* Lourdu Matha Shrine, Vennanapudi
Seminaries
* St. Ambrose Minor Seminary, Nuzivid (1957)
* Angel Minor Seminary, Nuzivid
* St.Paul's Regional Seminary(1984)
* St.Joseph's Major Seminary, Chinavutapalli (2000)
Education
As of 2019, the diocese has 27 Elementary schools, 9 Upper primary Schools, 50 High Schools, 3 Higher Secondary Schools, 10 Colleges, 2 Nursing training Institutes, 10 Non-Formal training centers, 16 Parish Elementary Schools departing education from pre-kindergarten through Post Graduation.
Catholic Institutions of Repute :
* Andhra Loyola college
* Maris Stella College
*
NSM Public School,
* Nirmala High School
* VSt.Johns, Gannavaram
* Atkinsons High
* St.Mary's English Medium School, Kankipadu
Media & Publications
* RADIO MARIA, Vijayawada.
* DIVYAVANI TV Zonal Productions, Vijayawada.
* IN VINCULO CHRISTI (Published since 1957)
Saints and causes for canonisation
* Servant of God Joseph Thamby, OFS
References
External links
Official WebsiteOfficial YouTube ChannelGunadala Matha ShrineDivyavani TVCBCICCBIVailankanni ShrineUCANThe Vatican
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijayawada
Roman Catholic dioceses in India
Christian organizations established in 1933
Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century
Christianity in Andhra Pradesh
1933 establishments in India
Vijayawada