A. Catholic Population
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As of Dec. 31, 2005, Eluru diocese had 281,531 baptized Catholics, accounting for 3.2 percent of all 8,769,739 people in the territory. The diocese had 105 parishes, 9 shrines and 1,104 mission stations. In 2005, the diocese recorded 6,531 baptisms. There were 10,605 catechumens. |
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People in the Diocese
Baptized Catholics: 281,531or 3.2%
Followers of other religions: Hindus: 8,332,216, Muslims: 149, 504, Jains: 5,054, others: 1, 434
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B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan Priests: 95 (all Indians)
Religious Priests: 73 (all Indians)
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C. Deacons
D. Religious Brothers , Sisters
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Religious Brothers: 30 (all Indians)
Religious Sisters: 564 (all Indians)
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E. Lay Missionaries, Catechists
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Lay missionaries: 25
Catechists: 663 (salaried: 553, volunteers: 110)
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F. Seminaries, Houses of Formation
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Minor seminary: 8
Major seminaries/Study Houses: 6
Houses of Formation: 17
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G. Episcopal Vicariates in Diocese
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St. Joseph's Church
St. Antony of Padua's Church
Holy Cross Church
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
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H. There are 105 parishes, 9 shrines and 1,104 mission stations in the diocese
Diocesan Activities and Organizations
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations
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| Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy with Bishop John Mulagada at a flood relief camp near Eluru |
Commission for Catechetics and Bible
Director: Father T. Gabriel
Commission for Catholic Charities
Director: Father G. Moses
Commission for Vocations
Director: Father K. Rayappan
Commission for Laity and Family
Director: Father Maria Elias
Commission for Education
Director: Father I. Michael
Commission for Pontifical Mission Aids
Director: Father R. Maria Joji, MF
Commission for Youth
Director: Father K. Charles
Commission for Media
Director: Father Joseph Parayil, SSP
Commission for Family Apostolate
Director: Father B. Ratna Raju
Commission for Liturgy
Director: Father M. Vijaya Kumar
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B. Catholic Educational Institutions
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Schools |
Students |
| Pre-Primary Schools |
16 |
5,500 |
| Primary Schools |
101 |
10,500 |
| Secondary Schools |
29 |
22,200 |
| Post-graduate and degree colleges |
9 |
3,589 |
| Technical Institutes |
11 |
435 |
| Schools of Nursing |
1 |
43 |
| Colleges of Nursing |
1 |
300 |
| Bachelor of Education Colleges |
1 |
120 |
| Dental Colleges |
1 |
500 |
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C. Catholic Social Welfare
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Hospitals: 14
Clinics (leprosy): 4
Dispensaries, health centers: 17
Homes for the elderly and disabled: 11
AIDS hospitals: 1
Orphanages: 55
Hostels: 16
Boarding Homes: 21
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D. Social Communications
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There is a diocesan newsletter: Illuminare Omnes
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E. Other Church Organizations and Associations
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Diocesan Catechetical, Liturgical, Adult Educational and
Leadership Training Centre
St. Jerome's Centre for Pastoral Activities
Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society Regional Training Centre (APSSS), a training center which conducts motivational camps
Bhimadole Development Society (BDS), a voluntary agency founded by the Vincentian Fathers
People's Action for Rural Awakening (PARA), a voluntary agency founded by the Salesian Fathers
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men
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| Father G. Moses speaking to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he visited a tsunami-affected district |
Order of St. Benedict ~ OSB
Order of Friars Minor (Capuchins) ~ OFM Cap
Claretian Missionaries ~ CMF
Congregation of the Mission ~ CM
Foyer de Charite ~ FC
Gunanelians
Pontifical Institute for the Foreign Missions ~ PIME
Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ SCJ
Salesians of Don Bosco ~ SDB
Society of Jesus ~ SJ
Society of St. Paul ~ SSP
Order of St. Camillus ~ OSC
Congregation of the Rosarians ~ CR
Third Order Regular of St. Francis ~ TOP
Vincentian Congregation ~ VC
Heralds of Good News ~ HGN
Holy Spirit Fathers ~ ALCP
Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales ~ MSFS
Missionaries of Faith ~ MF
Order of Discalced Carmelites ~ OCD
Society of the Catholic Apostolate ~ SAC
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B. Religious Institutes of Women
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| A family stands in front of their newly-built house, part of the tsunami rehabilitation project of the Diocesan Social Service Society in the Narsapur area of the diocese |
Andhra Little Sisters of Christ ~ LSC
Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ ASMI
Augustinian Sisters (Order of St. Augustine) ~ OSA
Carmelite Missionaries ~ CM
Catechist Sisters of St. Ann ~ CSA
Hospitaller Sisters of Mercy ~ HSM
Maestro Pie Venerini ~ MPV
Congregation of the Mother of Carmel ~ CMC
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny ~ SJC
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul ~ DC
Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple ~ DPM
Daughters of St. Camillus ~ DSC
Daughters of St. Francis De Sales ~ DSFS
Franciscan Clarist. Congregation ~ FCC
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph ~ FSJ
Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary Pondicherry ~ FIHM
Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary Quilon ~ FIH
Franciscan Sisters of the Presentation of Mary ~ FSPM
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart ~ FMSC
Holy Family Sisters of Bordeaux ~ HFB
Little Apostles of Redemption ~ LAR
Maestro Pie Filippine ~ MPF
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| The West Godavari District Collector (second from right) and other district officials at a function jointly organized by the District administration and the Diocesan Social Service Society against AIDS in Eluru.The society's director Father Moses is at extreme right |
Miles Jesu Sisters ~ MJ
Missionaries of Charity ~ MC
Sisters of Good News ~ SGN
Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians ~ MSMHC
Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ MSMI
Missionary Sisters of Immaculate ~ MSI
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration ~ PCPA
Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ SMI
Sisters of St. Ann of Providence ~ SA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy ~ SJA
Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Mark ~ SJSM
Sisters of the Congregation of St. Aloysius ~ OSL
Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament ~ SABS
Sisters of the Destitute ~ SD
Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany ~ BS
Society of Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~ JMJ
Sisters of St. Anne (Guntur) ~ CSSA
Society of the Sisters of St. Ann, Luzern ~ SAS
Sisters of the Holy Cross, Mezigen ~ HC
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
Geography
The diocesan territory stretches over 10,755 square kilometers and covers the civil district of West. Godavari and four mandals (administrative areas) of the district of East. Godavari. (There are 60 mandals in East. Godavari district.)
Population and language
In Eluru diocese, the total population was 8,769,739 as of end 2005. The main language is Telugu. There are also tribal dialects like Kui of the Koyas. The predominant tribal group in the region are the Koyas.
Politics
The two major parties are the Indian National Congress and Telugu Desam Party. There are two ministers in the State Cabinet and one in the Federal Cabinet. A former Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Lower House in Parliament), G.M.C. Balayogi, came from East. Godavari District.
Economy
The per capita income of the diocesan territory is 12,929 rupees (US$278 as of February 2007). There are no major industries in the area. The main crops are paddy, tobacco, sugarcane and chilies. Coconuts are also grown in the region.
Telecommunication
Telecommunication services are widespread. There are no TV or radio stations in the region.
Transportation
Transportation infrastructure and facilities in cities and towns are good, but infrequent and poor in villages. The general means of transportation are public buses and railways. Autorikshaws and cars are available mostly in cities and towns.
Literacy
Literacy rate in the diocesan territory is 57.5 per cent.
Culture
Popular art forms like Burra Katha and various forms of dances are attractions at major festivals. Tribal dances are also popular.
A brief historical note
The Diocese of Eluru was bifurcated from the Diocese of Vijayawada on Feb. 26, 1977. It consists of the civil district of West. Godavari and four mandals of Konaseema in East. Godavari district. The diocese has faces the Bay of Bengal in the south, the river Godavari in the east, the Diocese of Vijayawada in the west, and the Diocese of Khammam in the north.
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