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| Bishop's residence |
A. Catholic Population
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As of Dec. 31, 2008, Vijayawada diocese had 257,378 baptized Catholics, representing 5.12 percent of all 5,019,336 people in the territory. The diocese had 88 parishes and 1,079 mission stations. During 200, the diocese recorded 7,143 baptisms.
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People in the Diocese
Baptized Catholics: 257,378, or 5.12%
Members of other Christian denominations: not available
Followers of other religions (mostly Hindus): Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains
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B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan Priests: 138 Indians
Religious Priests: 59 Indians
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C. Deacons
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Transitional: 8
Permanent: not available
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Entrance to Jesuit run Andhra Loyola College
in Vijayawada |
D. Religious Brothers, Sisters
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Religious Brothers: 31 Indians
Religious Sisters: 692 (689 local sisters and 3 foreign sisters)
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E. Lay Missionaries, Catechists
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Lay missionaries: not available
Catechists: 445 (salaried)
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F. Seminaries, Houses of Formation (Click here for details)
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Minor seminary: 2
Major seminary: none
Houses of Formation and Retreat Centers: 26
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G. Deaneries in Diocese are: St. Paul's Cathedral, Vijayawada, St. Peter's Cathedral, Vijayawada, Avutapalli, Gudivada, Korukollu, Machilipatnam, Nandigama, Nuzvid, Tiruvuru
H. There are 88 parishes and 1,079 mission stations in the diocese
Diocesan Activities and Organizations
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Inside of St. Paul's Cathedral.
PHOTO ON TOP: Front view of the Cathedral |
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations
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Liturgy
In-Charge: Father Junjunuri John Raju
Catechetics
In-Charge: Msgr. Merugumala Chinnappa and Father Lamu Jaya Raju
Liturgy and Music
In-Charge: Father Lamu Jaya Raju
Master of Ceremonies
In-Charge: Fathers John D"Cruz, Inti Anthony, Katam Vijaya Kumar
Catholic Charities
In-Charge: Father Pidathala Balaswamy
Vocations
In-Charge: Father J. John Raju
Labour
In-Charge: Father Pidathala Balaswamy
Religious
In-Charge: Msgr. Merugumala Chinnappa
Dialogue and Ecumenism
In-Charge: Father Lamu Jaya Raju
Family
In-Charge: Father Lamu Jaya Raju
Vocations
In-Charge: Father J. John Raju
Youth
In-Charge: Father Darsi Don Bosco
Press and Publicity
In-Charge: Father Pamiti John Stephen
Catechetics
In-Charge: Father Lamu Jaya Raju
Catholic Association and Laity
In-Charge: Father J. John Raju
Jyothirmai
In-Charge: Father Lamu Jaya Raju
Diocesan Constructions
In-Charge: Father Pamiti John Stephen and Father J. John Raju
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Large crowd gathered to witness the ordination
of priests in Vijayawada |
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Bishop Prakash offers flowers to a newly ordained priest |
B. Catholic Educational Institutions
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Statistics:
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Schools |
Students |
| Pre-Primary Schools |
60 |
6,650 |
| Primary School |
123 |
15,914 |
| Secondary School |
56 |
43,518 |
| Post-secondary Schools |
14 |
5,300 |
| Colleges |
9 |
7,796 |
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C. Catholic Social Welfare
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Hospitals, clinics and dispensaries: 23
Elderly homes: 5
Homes for the disabled: 9
AIDS hospices: 2
Orphanages: 32
Centers for youth: 6
Socio-economic centers: 15
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| Gundala Matha Shrine in Vijayawada |
D. Social Communications
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There is no Social Communications office in the diocese
There is no diocesan website
Diocesan New Letter: In Vinculo Christi (IVC)
Editor: Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu
Address: Bishop's House, 59 A 1-7 Ring Road,
Vijayawada - 8,
Andhra Pradesh, India
Vara Prasadamula Matha (a Telugu Monthly of the Shrine of Our Lady)
Editor: Father Mallavalli Balaswamy, Rector
Address: Gunadala Matha Shrine
Gunadala
Vijayawada - 4, India
Gnana Jyothi (a Telugu Monthly for Catechists)
Editor: Father Bontha Lourdhu Francis
Parish Priest and Correspondent
Address: Ranigarithota
Vijayawada, India
Thamby Velugu (a Telugu Monthly of the Shrine of Brother Joseph Thamby)
Editor: Father Shoury OFM Cap.
Address: Shrine of Brother Joseph Thamby
Pedavutapally
Krishna Dt., India
Kala Darshini - Institute of Fine Arts and Culture
Director: Father D. Ravi Sekhar SJ
Address: Kala Darshini
Andhra Loyola College Campus
Vijayawada - 8, India
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E. Other Church Organizations and Associations
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Catholic College Students Movement
Catholic Womens's Association
Propagation of Faith
Teachers' Guild
Telegu Writers Association
Women's Desk
Legion of Mary
St. Vincent De Paul Society
Holy Childhood
Graduates Association
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men
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Order of Friars Minor Capuchins ~ OFM, Cap
Order of Discalced Carmelites ~ OCD
Missionaries of Faith ~ MF
Congregations of the Missions, Vincentians ~ C.M.
Heralds of Good News ~ HGN
Society of Jesus ~ SJ
Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales ~ MSFS
Salesians of Don Bosco ~ SDB
Oblates of Mary Immaculate ~ O.M.I.
Pallotines ~ S.A.C.
Pontifical Institute for the Foreign Missions ~ P.I.M.E.
Society of St. Paul ~ S.S.P.
Sons of Immaculate Conception ~ C.F.I.C.
Vincentian Congregation ~ VC
Benedictines ~ O.S.B.
Franciscan Missionary Brothers ~ CMSF
Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ SHJ
Missionary Brothers of Charity ~ MC
Brothers of St Joseph ~ BSJ
Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel ~ S.G.
De La Salle Brothers ~ F.S.C.
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B. Religious Institutes of Women
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Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ A.S.M.I.
Catechist Sisters of St. Ann ~ C.S.A.
Clarist Franciscan Missionaries of the Most Blessed Sacrament ~ C.F.M.S.S.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne ~ S.A.B.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Ann ~ C.S.S.A.
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny ~ S.J.C.
Congregation of Teresian Carmelites ~ C.T.C.
Dinasevanasabha ~ D.S.S.
Order of Discalced Carmelites ~ OCD
Dominican Sisters
Franciscan Clarist Congregation ~ F.C.C.
Franciscan Sisters of St. Louis De Gonzague ~ F.S.A.G.
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pondicherry ~ F.I.H.M.
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary ~ F.M.M.
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart ~ F.M. S.H.
Missionaries of Charity ~ M.C.
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate ~ M.S.I.
Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians ~ M.S.M.H.C.
Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver ~ S.S.P.C.
Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit ~ S.Sp.S.
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ I.C.M.
Regular Franciscan Tertiary Sisters ~ R.F.T.S.
Salesians Sisters of St. John Bosco ~ F.M.A.
Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod ~ S.C.
Sisters of the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament ~ S.A.B.S.
Sisters of the Destitute ~ S.D.
Sisters of St. Aloysius ~ O.S.L.
Sisters of St. Ann of Providence ~ S.A.P.
Society of St. Ann (Luzern) ~ S.A.S.
Society of Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~ J.M.J.
Society of the Sisters of St. Ann ~ S.S.A.
Ursuline Sisters of Somasca ~ U.S.S.
Ursulines of Mary Immaculate ~ U.M.I.
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
In a land area of 8,734 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers the civil district of Krishna. Vijayawada is the biggest city in the diocese. Machilipatnam is an important town in the diocese.
Population
In Vijayawada diocese, the population is 5,019,336 at end of 2008. (The population of the whole country is about 1,2 billion). Most residents are ethnic Telegus.
Political structure
The towns are managed by municipalities. The villages and small towns are administered by elected local bodies called Panchayats.
Economy
Rupees 22,874 (about USD468 as of July 2009) is the per capital income in the diocesan territory. Farming especially paddy, tobacco cultivation is done for generating money.
Telecommunications
Government and private operators provide extensive telecommunication facilities in the diocesan area. The diocese is well connected by local cable TV networks.
Transportation
The diocesan area is well connected in terms of transport infrastructure by roads and railways. The nearest airport is in Hyderabad city.
Education
68.85 per cent is the literacy rate in the diocesan territory.
Language
Telegu, English and Urdu are the languages used in the diocesan territory.
Brief History
The Diocese of Vijayawada comprised in the beginning the whole of Krishna and West Godavari districts and the Taluks of Amalapuram, Kothapeta, Razole and Mummidivaram in East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.
This territory was separated from Hyderabad and made a "Missio sui Juris" by a Brief of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, dated Jan. 10, 1933 and elevated to a diocese on April 23, 1937.
The Diocese of Eluru was bifurcated from Vijayawada on Feb. 26, 1977. The Diocese of Vijayawada now comprises only the civil district of Krishna.
< Last updated on: August 10, 2009 >
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