Ecclesiastical Details - Catholics India

Diocese of Guntur

Rite:

Latin

Population:

5085210

Status:

Diocese

Catholics:

2 18 900

Founded:

13-Feb-40

Diocesan Priests:

140

Total area:

22356 sq. kms.

Religious Priests:

Province:

Vishakapatnam

Religious Sisters:

540

Region:

Andhra Pradesh

Seminarians:

Patron:

St. Theresa of Child Jesus

Languages:

Telugu

Civil States:

Andhra Pradesh: Guntur district Addanki Taluk of Prakasam district

Contact Diocese Office :

Bishop's House Chandramoulinagar Guntur - 522 007. ANDHRA PRADESH

Telephone 1:

0863-23 50 720 / 23 51 234

Fax:

23 51 234

E-Mail Office:

Website:

Most Rev. Bhagyaiah Chinnabathini, Bishops of Guntur

Name:

Most Rev. Bhagyaiah Chinnabathini

Designation:

Bishops

Canonical Possession:

2016-

Telephone (P):

E-mail (P):

Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Guntur

Bishops Name	Designation	Period
	Retired	1984-2016

Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Guntur

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres

Educational Institutions

Parishes:

629

Hospitals:

Degree Colleges:

Major Seminaries:

Orphanages:

Technical Training Centres:

Minor Seminaries:

Special Schools:

High Schools:

Monastries:

Crèches:

Lower Primary Schools:

112

Convents:

Counselling Centres:

Presses & Media Centres:

Formation Houses:

Social Centres:

Professional Colleges:

Retreat Centres:

Dispensaries / Clinics:

Parallel Colleges:

Physically Challenged:

Higher Secondary :

Boarding Houses:

Upper Primary Schools:

HIV / AIDS Centres:

Nurseries/Pre-Primary :

De-addiction Centres:

Aged & Destitute:

History of the Diocese of Guntur

Till 1940 Guntur formed a part of the Diocese of Nellore. On February 23 1940 the civil district of Guntur was detached from the Diocese of Nellore and constituted into the new Diocese of Guntur with Msgr Thomas Pothacamury as its First Bishop.

The Telugu Catholics date as far back as 1699. During the Carnatic Mission founded by the French Jesuits there was a large number of Catholics in the Telugu region. With the suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1773 the Paris Mission Society stepped in the field and great progress was made during the time of Bp Bonnand. Later in 1834 the Telugu districts were attached to the Vicariate of Madras which was first manned by the Irish Priests from Maynooth and All Hallows and next by the Mill Hill Fathers till the constitution of the diocese in 1940 when it was entrusted to the indigenous Diocesan Clergy.

The Diocese of Guntur originally corresponded to the civil district of Guntur. In 1970 when Prakasam district was formed some taluks of Guntur district were taken over in the new district. Hence in 1977 by a decree of "Propoganda Fide" all the taluks in Prakasam district were handed over to the Diocese of Nellore except Addanki Taluk which belongs to the Diocese of Guntur.

Prelates of the Diocese of Guntur

Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period	Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period
	Bishop	1977-1983		Bishop	1974-1977
	Bishop	1943-1974		Bishop	1940-1943