Ecclesiastical Details

Diocese of Srikakulam
Heirarchy of the Diocese
Rite:
Latin
Population:
2,728,000
 
Status:
Diocese
Catholics:
66125
 
Founded:
01-Jul-93
Diocesan Priests:
43
  Total area:
5600 Sq.km
Religious Priests:
12
 
Province:
Vishakapatnam
Religious Sisters:
95
 
Region:
Andhra Pradesh
Seminarians:
  Patron:
Mary Help of Christians
  Languages: Telugu Oriya and English
  Civil States: Andra Predesh: Srikakulam and Revenue mandals of Kurupam Gummalakshmipuramm Paravathipuramand
Contact Diocese Office :
Bishop's House Balagatehope Srikakulam-532001 ANDHARA PRADESH
Telephone 1:
91 8942-22 32 65 / 91 8942-22 29 47
Fax:
91 8942-22 29 47
 
E-Mail Office:
skldiocese@yahoo.com
Website:
 
Most Rev. Vijaya Kumar Rayarala, Bishops of Srikakulam
Name:
Most Rev. Vijaya Kumar Rayarala
Designation:
Bishops   Canonical Possession: 2019-
Telephone (P):
E-mail (P):
 
Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Srikakulam
 
Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Srikakulam
 
Ecclesiastical Institutions
 
Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres
Educational Institutions
Parishes:
32
 
Hospitals:
2
   
Degree Colleges:
1
Major Seminaries:
 
Orphanages:
4
   
Technical Training Centres:
2
Minor Seminaries:
 
Special Schools:
   
High Schools:
10
Monastries:
 
Crèches:
   
Lower Primary Schools:
13
Convents:
 
Counselling Centres:
   
Presses & Media Centres:
Formation Houses:
 
Social Centres:
4
   
Professional Colleges:
Retreat Centres:
1
 
Dispensaries / Clinics:
2
   
Parallel Colleges:
 
Physically Challenged:
   
Higher Secondary :
       
Boarding Houses:
   
Upper Primary Schools:
1
       
HIV / AIDS Centres:
   
Nurseries/Pre-Primary :
       
De-addiction Centres:
       
          Aged & Destitute:        
     
       
History of the Diocese of Srikakulam
 

The diocese of Srikakulam was erected in 1993 carving it from the civil district of Srikakulam and the Taluks of Kurupam parvathipuram Cheepurupalli and Gummalakshmipuram of Vizianagaram District. The geographical area of the diocese is 8542 square kilometers. It was bifurcated from the erstwhile diocese of Visakhapatnam and erected a separate diocese on the August 4 1993 with Most Rev. A. Innayya as the first bishop of Srikakulam.-

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The diocese was started with 35000 Catholics 14 parishes and few resources for caring to the spiritual pastoral social economical and educational development of the vast population of the area. With the strenuous efforts and zeal of Bishop priests and religious the task of building up of the Church in Srikakulam diocese has been speeded up still more and today it has more than 50000 Catholics 22 parishes 32 priests 75 sisters and 154 catechists.

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Socio-economic conditions of the people


The geographical area of the diocese could broadly be divided into two regions like the coastal belt and upland region. The people living in these regions are predominantly the agricultural labourers as agriculture is the main occupation. The people living in the plain and upland region do have the advantage occupations like working in the forest collecting the products from the forest like gum fire wood timber honey tamarind etc. and vending the same to the people of the plain areas either in exchange of the other commodities or for cash.

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The Srikakulam district is the second largest one in the state of Andhra Pradesh having the highest concentration of the Scheduled Tribes living across the Western Ghats either at the foot or the top hills. The tribes like Savaras Jatapus Gadabas and Kons are widely seen in this forest area. They make their lives mostly depending upon the forest while some cultivation their pretty extent of lands.

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The people living in plain areas of Srikakulam and parts of Viziangaram are the agricultural labourers. In almost all the villages majority of the population are scheduled castes. There are also some people who do possess some extent of lands ranging from 0.50 to 2.50 acres. Since the income derived form these lands is not adequate to supplement the maintenance of their families they are forced to work in the fields of the rich of the area as agricultural labourers. In any case the daily income of a poor family does not exceed Rs. 35 to 40/-. In most of the family one can see that the children also go for work just to supplement the income of their parents. Hence the literacy percentage in the diocese is very low.-

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The diocese with its limited resources trying to raise this literacy percentage among the Catholics with whom the priests and nuns have free access. Even for the pastoral activities in the parish level the people are not in position to contribute much to the church; just because of their poverty. Seeing their condition the Church also does never force the people to pay for the celebrations or functions. At this juncture the diocese with its limited available resources is managing most of the functions or celebrations in the parish/deanery/diocesan level.

 
Prelates of the Diocese of Srikakulam
Bishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriodBishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriod
Bishops 1989-2018