A. Catholic Population
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As of Dec. 31, 2006, Visakhapatnam Archdiocese had 244,066 baptized Catholics, representing 1.92 percent of all 12,628,834 people in the territory. The archdiocese had 61 parishes and 517 mission stations. During 2006, the archdiocese recorded 3,624 baptisms.
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People in the Diocese
Baptized Catholics: 244,066, or 1.92%
Members of other Christian denominations: not available
Followers of other religions: Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains
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B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan Priests: 61 Indians
Religious Priests: 87 Indians
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C. Deacons
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Transitional: 4
Permanent: Not available
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D. Religious Brothers, Sisters
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Religious Brothers: 7 Indians
Religious Sisters: 452 (448 local sisters and 4 foreign sisters)
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E. Lay Missionaries, Catechists
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Lay Missionaries: 170
Catechists: 415
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F. Seminaries, Houses of Formation (Click here for details)
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Minor seminary: 1
Major seminary: 4
Houses of Formation and Retreat Centers: 3
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G. Deaneries in Diocese are: Vizag Urban, Vizag Rural, Vizianagaram, East Godavari
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Chapel of the Perpetual Adoration at Rakshnagiri,
Gnanapuram |
Diocesan Activities and Organizations
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations
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Commission for Bible
Commission for Catechetics
Commission for Vocation
Commission for Liturgy
Commission for Youth
Commission for Communication
Family Commission
Prison Ministry
Ecumenism & Dialogue
Pious Associations
Labor Commission
Scheduled tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC) and Other Backward Caste (BC) Commission
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B. Catholic Educational Institutions
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Schools |
Students |
| Pre-Primary Schools |
28 |
3,210 |
| Primary School |
70 |
24,103 |
| Secondary School |
37 |
16,816 |
| Junior Colleges/Higher Secondary Schools |
6 |
1,850 |
| Degree Colleges |
2 |
425 |
| P.G. College |
1 |
40 |
| Technical Schools |
4 |
152 |
| Teachers' training college |
2 |
210 |
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C. Catholic Social Welfare
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Tribal children in front of their residential
school run by the archdiocese |
Hospitals: 5
Dispensaries: 19
Leprosaria: 2
Homes for the elderly: 2
Homes for the disabled: 1
AIDS hospices: 2
Orphanages: 4
Hostels for youth: 16
Socio-economic centers: Visakhapatnam Diocesan Social Service Society
Family apostolate: Coordinated through the Pastoral Centre
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| "Jubilee home" for retired priests |
D. Social Communications
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Father Annu Pushpanadham is in charge of the communication center
Address: Director Pastoral Centre, Maharanipeta, P.O.
Address: Visakhapatnam - 530 002, India
Phone: +891 2706409,
Fax: +891 270 4404,
Cell: 9866708019
Email: abphvizag@rediffmail.com
The diocese publishes a monthly Magazine in Telegu and English
No diocesan website
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E. Other Church Organizations and Associations
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Catholic Teachers' Association
Catholic Nurses Guild
Pontifical Mission Aid Societies
Legion of Mary
St. Vincent De Paul Society
Young Christian Workers Movement
Kolping Society
Catholic Association
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men
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| Archbishops House in Maharanipeta, Viskhapattinam |
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Archbishop Kagithapu Mariadas receiving the
pallium from late Pope John Paul II |
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Order of Friars Minor Capuchins ~ OFM, Cap
Order of Discalced Carmelites ~ OCD
Claretian Missionaries ~ CMF
Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales ~ MSFS
Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance ~ TOE
Society of Jesus ~ SJ
Congregation of the Missions ~ CM
Congregation of the most holy Redeemer ~ CssR
Salesians of Don Bosco ~ SDB
Missionaries of Faith ~ MF
Clerics Regualar of Somasca ~ CRS
Pallotines ~ SAC
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette ~ MS
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B. Religious Institutes of Women
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Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy ~ SJA
Society of Sisters of St. Ann, Luzern ~ SAS
Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Guntur ~ CSSA
Missionaries of Charity ~ MC
Canossian Daughters of Charity ~ FDCC
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate ~ MSI
Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ SMI
Catechist Sisters of St. Anne ~ CSA
Congregation of St. Aloysius ~ OSI
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul ~ DC
Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco ~ FMA
Daughters of St. Anne ~ DSA
Deenasevasabha ~ DSS
Franciscan Clarist Congregation ~ FCC
Maria Bambina Sisters ~ SCCG
Sisters of Charity of St. Anne, Bombay ~ SCHSA
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross ~ SCS
Sisters of St. Anne of Providence ~ SA
Sisters of the Divine Saviour ~ SDS
Sisters of the Holy Spirit ~ SHSP
Society of Jesus, Mary and Joseph ~ JMJ
Sisters of the Holy Cross (Menzingen) ~ HC
Sisters Of Adoration of Blessed Sacrament ~ SABS
Congregation of Samaritan Sisters ~ CSS
Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate ~ ASMI
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration ~ PCPA
Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod ~ SCC
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
In a land area of 25,950 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers the civil districts of Visakhapatnam, Viziangaram and East Godavari. Visakhapatnam is the biggest city in the diocese. Vizianagaram, Kakinada and Rajahmundry are other important towns in the diocese.
Population
In Visakhapatnam diocese, the population is 12,628,834 at end of 2006. (The population of the whole country is about 1,2 billion). Most residents are ethnic Telegus. Tribals also form part of the diocese.
Political structure
The City is managed by Corporation. The villages and small towns are administered by elected local bodies called Panchayats and municipalities respectively.
Economy
Rupees 27,712 (about USD567 as of July 2009) is the capital income in the diocese territory. Farming, especially paddy cultivation is the biggest occupation. Shipbuilding, oil refinery and steel factories provide jobs in the diocesan area.
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 Visakhapatnam city. The city has a major port and a naval base.
Education
54.03 per cent is the literacy rate in the diocesan territory.
Language
Telegu Hindi and English are the languages used in the diocesan aerea.
Brief History
The area of the Diocese of Visakhapatnam now consists of the area of the civil districts of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and part of Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh.
This territory was part of the Diocese of Mylapore from 1806, and in 1833 it became part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Madras. However, organized Church work began to take place only from 1845, when it was erected as a separate Pro-Vicariate on March 16, 1845 and was handed over to the Fathers of St. Francis de Sales of Annecy, France. Later it was made a Vicariate Apostolic through a Brief of Pope Pius IX, on April 3, 1850; and it was constituted into a diocese when the Indian Hierarchy was established on September 1, 1886. This original territory of the Diocese of Visakhapatnam in 1886 has given shape by now to some fourteen dioceses including three archdioceses, Nagpur being the first one in 1887 and Srikakulam being the latest one in 1993.
The First Fathers of St. Francis de Sales on their arrival in Visakhapatnam found there one old Theatine priest who was the last survivor of the priests from Mylapore. At that time there were only a few Catholics scattered about who were mostly European troops. In 1850 their total number was estimated to be 4,000 even though the Vicariate included the Central Province and Berar which were separated from Visakhapatnam in 1886. The present diocese is only less than one twentieth in area of the original diocese in 1886.
It became an archdiocese on Oct. 30, 2001. The Metropolitan has as its suffragans the diocese of Srikakulam, Eluru, Vijayawada, Guntur and Nellore, lying near the coastal belt on the Bay of Bengal.
< Last updated on: September 14, 2009 >
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