A. Catholic Population
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As of August 2009, the Catholic population of Belgaum Diocese is 29,575 according to the data collected from each parish. They are representing 0.24 percent of all 11,939,363 people (Census 2001) living in the territory. The diocese comprises of five civil districts of Karnataka and one district of Maharashtra. They include Belgaum, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag, and Haveri districts in North Karnataka and Chandgad Taluq in Kohlapur District of Maharashtra. The diocese had 60 parishes.
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People in the Diocese
Baptized Catholics: 29,575, or 0.24%
Members of other Christian denominations: data not available
Followers of other religions (mostly Hindus): data not available
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B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan Priests: 72 Indians
Religious Priests: 30 Indians
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C. Deacons
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Transitional: 5
Permanent: nil
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D. Religious Brothers, Sisters
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Religious Brothers: 8 Indians
Religious Sisters: 350 Indians
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E. Lay Missionaries, Catechists
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Lay missionaries: data not available
Catechists: data not available
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F. Seminaries, Houses of Formation (Click here for details)
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Minor seminary: 3
Major seminary: nil
Houses of Formation and Retreat Centers: 4
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G. The diocese has 5 deaneries
H. There are 60 parishes in the diocese
Diocesan Activities and Organizations
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations (Click here for details)
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| Miracle church |
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Diocesan Catechetical, Biblical & Communication Commission
Secretary: Father Francis D'Souza
Ecumenism & Dialogue Commission
Secretary: Father Ivan Mendonca SJ
Educational Apostolate
Secretary: Father Robert Fernandes
Family Commission
Secretary: Father Pramod Dalbanjan
Vocation Promotion
Director: Father Peter Viegas
Health Commission
Secretary: Father Benoy Abraham CMF
Holy Childhood
Secretary: Father Cyril Fernandes
Justice, Peace & Development Commission
Secretary: Father Rayappa Handiaver
Labour Commission
Secretary: Father Joseph Balaiah
Laity Commission
Secretary: Father Freddy A. Raj
Proclamation Commission
Director / Animator : Father Peter D' Souza
Sacred Liturgy
Secretary: Father Eusebio Fernandes
Small Christian Community Commission
Secretary: Father Andrew Fernandes
Womens's Commission
Secretary: Sr. Xaverita HC
Youth Commission
Secretary: Father Vijaykumar Mendith
Prison Ministry
Secretary: Father Maria Anthony
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B. Catholic Educational Institutions
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Statistics:
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Schools |
Students |
| Primary Schools |
36 |
15,000 |
| High Schools |
26 |
16,000 |
| Colleges |
11 |
7,000 |
| Training institutes for professional courses |
10 |
8,000 |
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| Jesuit house |
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St. Mary's school |
C. Catholic Social Welfare (Click here for details)
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Home for the aged: 3
Special school for child labor: 1
Home for the physically/ mentally challenged: 2
HIV/AIDS centres (men & women): 2
Dispensaries: 11
Hospitals: 2
School of Nursing: 1
Boardings: 29
De-addiction centers: 1
Hospitals: 2 (beds: 250)
Dispensaries: 10 (beneficiaries, annual: 14,000)
Other Institutions: 25 (beneficiaries, annual: 2,200)
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D. Social Communications
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Diocesan Bulletin - "Christa Prakash"
Chief Editor: Father Robert Fernandes
Su-Sandesha Kenra (1998)
(Diocesan Catholic Enquiry Centre)
Address: St. Anthony's Compound, Khanapur Road, Camp, Belgaum - 590 001, India
Co-ordinator: Sr. Grace Mathew FdCC
Phone: +91 831 - 2427395
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E. Other Church Organizations and Associations
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Employment Bureau
Address: c/o Don Bosco Academy, Sutgatti, Navanagar, Hubli - 580 025, India
Director: Father Albano Fernandes, SDB
Phone: +91 836 -2324306 / 2324219
Email: donboscoacademy@rediffmail.com
Marriage Bureau
Address: Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Keshwapur - Hubli - 580 023, India
Director: Mr. J. C. Luiz
Phone: +91 836-2280253 / 23666997
Sevalaya (Diocesan Pastoral Centre)
Address: Dr. Da Ra Bendre Road, Sadankeri, Dharwad - 580 008, India
Director: Father Victor D'Cruz
Phone: +91 836 - 2777777, 2777778
Director: 09448420618.
Email: sevalayadwd@rediffmail.com
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men
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| Grotto |
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Society of Jesus ~ SJ
Salesian Fathers ~ SDB
Order of Friars Minor: Franciscans ~ OFM
Claretian Congregation ~ CMF
Discalced Carmelites ~ OCD
Religious Brothers
Montfort Brothers
Address: P. O. Kalghatgi, Dist. Dharwad - 581 204, India
Director: Bro. Thomas Thottiyil, SG
Phone: +91 8370 - 284250, 285034
Mobile: 09448831258
Email: gnws2001@yahoo.com
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B. Religious Institutes of Women
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Canossian Daughters of Charity ~ FDCC
Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna ~ CCV
Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate ~ MSI
Sisters of St. Anne ~ SAB
Sisters of Apostolic Carmel ~ AC
Sisters of The Little Flower Of Bethany ~ BS
Order of The Most Holy Saviour ~ Bridgetine Sisters
Sisters of St. Anne's Society ~ SSA
Sisters of Holy Family Of Nazareth ~ SFN
Sisters of Handmaids Of Christ ~ HC
Sisters of Mercy Of The Holy Cross ~ SCSC
Carmelite Sisters Of St. Teresa ~ CSST
Augustinian Missionary Sisters ~ AMS
Ursuline Franciscan Sisters ~ UFS
Society of St. Ursula ~ SU
Hospitaller Sisters Of Immaculate Conception ~ FHIC
Daughters of The Cross Of Liege ~ FC
Missionaries of Charity ~ MC
Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco
Sisters of St. Anne's of Providence ~ SA
Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate ~ SMMI
Daughters of Wisdom (Montfort Sisters) ~ DW
Sisters of Servants of The Poor ~ SDP
Missionary Sisters of The Queen of The Apostles ~ SRA
Sisters of The Cross of Chavanod ~ SCC
Sisters of The Carmelites ~ CM
Sisters of Mercy of The Cross ~ SCSC
Cluny Sisters ~ SJC
Franciscan Missionaries of Christ The King ~ FMCK
Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo ~ SCB
Dena Sevana Sabha ~ Servants of The Poor
Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco ~ FMA
Handmaids of Christ ~ HC
Daughters of The Church ~ EF
Society of Jesus, Mary & Joseph ~ JMJ
Sisters of St. Anne's Society ~ SAS
Lay Missionaries
Several Lay associations are functioning in the Mangalore Diocese who act as lay missionaries and assist the building of the church, evangelization and faith formation:
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Catholic Charismatic Movement
Catholic Association
Indian Catholic Youth Movement
Legion of Mary
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
In a land area of 44,215 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers the Civil Districts of Belgaum, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri in Karnataka State and the Chandgad Taluka in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra State.
Belgaum is one of the oldest, prominent and well cultured historical place in the western ghats. It lies in the zone of cultural transition from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa with a known antiquity, clearly traceable back to the second century A.D. The nearest well developed cities to Belgaum are Panaji in Goa, Hubli and Dharwad in Karnataka and Kohlapur in Maharashtra. Many Catholics in the city of Belgaum are migrants from Goa. The number of Catholics in the diocese is 29,575 as of August 1009.
Population
In Belgaum diocese, the population is 11,939,363 according to 2001 Census. (The population of the whole country is 1.2 billion).
Language
Konkani, Kannada, Marathi, English and Tamil are in use in the diocesan territory.
Brief History
The Diocese of Belgaum was erected on Sept. 19, 1953 by the Papal Bull "Summa illa Sollicitudo" of Pope Pius XII. Two Civil Districts of Belgaum and North Kanara were separated from the Archdiocese of Goa and two other Civil Districts of Dharwad and Bijapur were taken from the Diocese of Pune in forming the Diocese of Belgaum.
Bishop Dr. Michael Rodrigues was appointed the first bishop. By a Papal Bull "Christi Missum" of Paul VI, the North Kanara District was separated from Belgaum Diocese to form Karwar Diocese on Jan. 24, 1976.
Patroness of the docese: Our Lady of the Family Rosary of Fatim
< Last updated on: September 15, 2009 >
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