A. Catholic Population
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As of 2005, Guntur diocese had about 203,525 Catholics, representing 4 percent of all 5,085,210 people in the territory. The diocese had 72 parishes and 520 mission stations. There were 20 full-time church workers, 460 catechists and 1,100 catechumens. The diocese has an average of 2,800 baptisms each year. Other religions in the diocese include Hinduism, Islam and Jainism. These people number about 4.8 million. |
B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan priests: 110 (93 Indians, 17 foreigners)
Religious priests: 60
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C. Religious Brothers, Sisters
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Religious Brothers: 17
Religious Sisters: 540
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D. Seminaries, Houses of Formation
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Minor seminary:
St Paul's Minor Seminary, Phirangipuram-522 009, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. Tel: (91) 8641-257124
No. of seminarians: 11
St Thomas Minor Seminary, Chandramoulinagar, Guntur- 522 007. Tel: (91) 863-2350281
No. of seminarians: 14
Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Gorantla -522 034, Guntur District. Tel: (91) 863-2236492
No. of seminarians: 23
No. of major seminarians: 53 (in other major seminaries)
Houses of Formation:
Ananda Jyothi Novitiate (Jesuits), Nagarjunanagar P O, Via Nambur, Guntur District. Pin code: 522 510, Phone: (91) 863-2293268
Members in the house: 16
Jyothi Nikethan, Divine Word Seminary, Palnad Road, Narsaraopet-522 601, Guntur District. Phone: (91) 8647-222466
Members in the house: 37
Sacred Heart Novitiate, Nambur-522 508, Guntur District. Phone: (91) 863-2293788
No. of members: 10
Redemptorist Juvenate, Chenchupet P O, Tenali- 522 202, Guntur District. Phone: (91) 8644-223382
No. of members: 4
St. Ann's Novitiate, Loyolanagar P O, Via Nallapadu, Guntur District. Phone: (91) 863-2290202
No. of members: 40
St. Ann's pre-novitiate, Phirangipuram, Guntur District. Pin code: 522 529. Phone: (91) 8641-257238
No. of members: 18
Asha Deepam, Postulants House, Sisters of Aloysious Gonzaga, Nambur, Pedakakani mandal, Guntur-522 508. Phone: (91) 863-2293979
Number of postulants: 4
JMJ Formation House, Errabalem P O, Mangalagiri, Guntur District. Pin code: 522 503. Phone: (91) 8645-234001
Members in the house: 16
JMJ Pre-novitiate, Errabalem P O, Mangalagiri, Guntur District. Pin code: 522 503. Phone: (91) 863-290114
Members in the pre-novitiate: 8
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E. There are 72 parishes and 520 mission stations in the diocese.
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| Bishop Bali is seen here with some tsunami victims of Repalle parish after giving them nets and fiber boats. |
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| Bishop Bali presenting a certificate to a student who has completed a vocational training course at Kolping Youth Center for Dalits in Guntur. |
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Diocesan Activities and Organizations
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations
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Commission for Education
Director/ chairman: Father Pudota Innaiah (Jr.), Phone: (91) 8645-242724
Commission for Justice, peace and Development
Director/ chairman: Father Putti Sunder Raju, Phone: (91) 863-2353945
Commission for Jyothirmai
Director/chairman: Father M. Gnana Prakash, Phone: (91) 863-2293358
Commission for Youth
Director/ chairman: Father Raphael Reddy, Phone: (91) 863-2242133
Commission for Children
Director/chairman: Father Salika Thomas, Phone: (91) 8647-276530
Commission for Vocations
Director/chairman: Father Yeruva Lourdu Marredy (Jr), Phone: (91) 8641-257124
Commission for Proclamation
Director/chairman: Father Abraham Panampara, SDB, Phone: (91) 8643-242114
Commission for Bible and Catechetics
Director/chairman: Father Yeruva Bala (Sr), Phone: (91) 8642-278118
Commission for Liturgy and Music
Director/chairman: Father Pamisetti Thomas, Phone: (91) 863-2355127
Commission for Laity
Director/chairman: Father M. Gnana Prakash, Phone: (91) 863-2293358
Commission for Family
Director/chairman: Father Petla Mariadas, Phone: (91) 863-2350281
Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue
Director/chairman: Father Putti Sunder Raju, Phone: (91) 863-2353945
Commission for Media of Social Communications
Director/chairman: Father G Rayanna, Phone: (91) 863-2224218
Commission for Health
Director/chairman: Sister Victoria, JMJ, Phone: (91) 863-2320429
Commission for SC/ST/BC
Director/chairman: Father Y. Showry Raju, Phone: (91) 863-2213579
Commission for Self-reliance
Director/chairman: Father Lingareddy Loudu, Phone: (91) 8642-258543
Commission for Sponsorship Programme
Director/chairman: Father Showry Raju, Phone: (91) 863-2213579
Commission for Charismatic Renewal
Director/chairman: Father N Alphonse Raju, Phone: (91) 8647-272214
Commission for Apostolic Union of Clergy
Director/chairman: Father Dasari Anthony Kiran, Phone: (91) 8645-242724
Commission for Public Relations
Director/chairman: Father B. Jaya Raju, Phone: (91) 8641-257228
Commission for Pontifical Mission Aid Societies
Director/chairman: Father Petla Mariadas, Phone: (91) 863-2350281
Commission for Pious Associations
Spiritual Director: Father K Raja Mohan, Phone: (91) 863-2350720
Commission for Project Selection Committee
Director: Father Malapati Fatima Marreddy, Phone: (91) 863-2350720
Commission for Vocation Training
Director/ chairman: Brother Antony Cruz, SHJ, Phone: (91) 863-2290374
Commission for Mahila Mandals
Director/chairman: Sar Marcella, CSSA
Commission for Street Children
Director/chairman: Sister Valsa, RGS
Prison Ministry: Sister D Rose, CSSA
CRI President: Sister Ignatius Mekala, CSSA, Phone: (91) 863-2242956
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B. Catholic Educational Institutions
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Schools |
Students |
| Elementary/Primary |
91 |
13,832 |
| High Schools |
74 |
36,702 |
| Junior Colleges |
10 |
2,631 |
| Degree and Postgraduate Colleges |
9 |
3,015 |
| Technical Institutes/Schools |
15 |
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| Number of Nursing Colleges |
3 |
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C. Catholic Social Welfare
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| An issue of the diocesan newsletter |
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Hospitals: 12
Health Centers: 4
Dispensaries: 16
AIDS Hospices: 1
Homes for the elderly: 4
Homes for the disabled: 3
Homes for Street children, destitute girls: 2
Hostels, orphanages and homes for boys and girls: 76
Youth centers: 2
Social Institutions: 11
Ecclesiastical Institutions: 5
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D. Social Communications
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Commission for Media of Social Communications
Director: Father Govindu Rayanna
Address: Parish priest, St Antony's Shrine, Nagrampalem, Guntur- 522 004. Phone: (91) 863-2224218
Diocesan newsletter
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men
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Brothers of the Sacred Heart ~ SHJ
Claretian Missionary Fathers ~ CMF
First Order of the Discalced Carmelites ~ OCD
Heralds of Good News ~ HGN
Missionaries of St Francis De Sales ~ MSFS
Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary ~ MSSCC
Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel ~ SG
Order of Friars Minor Capuchins ~ OFM Cap
Pallotines Society of the Catholic Apostolate ~ SAC
Priests of the Sacred Heart ~ SCJ
Redemptorists ~ CSSR
Salesians of Don Bosco ~ SDB
Society of Jesus ~ SJ
Society of the Divine Word ~ SVD
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B. Religious Institutes of Women
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Assissi Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ ASMI
Augustinian Sisters (Order of St Augustine) ~ OSA
Bethany Sisters ~ BS
Catechist Sisters of St Ann ~ CSA
Congregation of Regular Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of All Saints ~ FSAS
Congregation of St Charles Borromeo ~ SCB
Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent De Paul ~ SCV
Congregation of the Sisters of St Anne (Bangalore) ~ SAB
Congregation of the Sisters of St Ann-Phirangipuram (Guntur) ~ CSSA
Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sisters of Dorothy) ~ DSHS
Franciscan Clarist Congregation ~ FCC
Franciscan Sisters of St Aloysius Gonzaga
Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph ~ FSJ
Institute of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians ~ FMA
Little Sisters of the Poor ~ PSDP
Missionaries of Charity ~ MC
Missionary Sisters of Good News ~ MSGN
Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians ~ MSMHC
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate (Nirmala Sisters) ~ MSI
Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd ~ RGS
Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartholomea Capitanio and Vincenza Geroza ~ SCCG
Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny ~ SJC
Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod ~ SCC
Society of Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~ JMJ
Society of St Ann (Luzern) ~ SAS
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
The diocesan territory covers an area of 30,814 square kilometers and includes Guntur district and Addanki taluk of Prakasam district. The local population is 5,085,210.
The main agricultural products of the district are chilli, cotton, tobacco and turmeric. Ethnic groups in the diocese include the Chenchu, Lambadi, Yanadi and Yerukula. Languages used in the territory are English, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu and tribal languages. The literacy rate in the diocesan territory is 60 percent.
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