Ecclesiastical Details

The Indian history Christianity reveals that Rayalaseema is the cradle of Catholicism in Andrah Pradesh The two districts of this region Anantapur and kurnool witness or gave birth to Catholicism in Krishnapuram and Onteddupalle Polur and Cowlur -respectively The Karnatic Jesuit missionaries sowed the seeds of Christianity in these villages from 1700 They also contributed -extensively to Telugu Christian literature It is recorded that the 1st person accepted Christ in Andra Prades was Rangappa of Sale Caste Later in 1718 Thumma Rayaappa Reddy was baptized by Fr LeeGac As the Holy relics of the Carnatic mission today we have three tombs of Jesuit missionaries in Krshnapuram as well as the tombs of three Jesuit missionaries are witnessese for the rise of Catholicism in Andra Pradesh Because of the Marathas war and persecution and looting of Christians in these areas the people have left to Guntur Nalgonda and to some parts of the Tamil nadu The diocese is proud to be beginner for the origin of Catholicism in Andhra Pradesh

After the withdrawal of the Jesuits in 1773 the Paris Foriegn Missionary Society took over the missionary task and kept alive the faith of the people From 1875 onwards the Mill Hill Fathers also labored in the Western parts of the diocese for some time As a result of their hard work kurnool was erected as Diocese in 1967 Most Rev Joseph Rajappa Most Rev Matthew Cheriankunnel Most Rev S A Aruliah and Most Rev G Johannes initiated many developmental activities in the fields of evangelization education health and social development Many religious congregations of men and women have taken up activities in these fields Bishop Johannes gave a new impetus to the pastoral activities in the diocese The new parishes of Premagiri Kosigi Raptadu Kodumur Mission Chapirevula and Bandi Atmakur were established The Siani Retreat Center at Premagiri and ST John's Jubilee Memorial Hall at Pastoral Center are promising evangelization and religious education St John's Major Seminary at Dinnedevarapadu Kurnool run by the Heralds of the Good New Fathers is another land mark in the history of the Kurnool Diocese The dreams of Bishop Johannes to have major seminary is now realized Keeping in mind the call of the Holy Father for "Yesu Christu Jayanti 2000" the diocese of kurnool has launched a pastoral program for "Jubilee 2000" with a special committee named Yesu Christu Jayanti 2000" All priests Religious Catechists and the people at all levels and worked for the meaningful celebration "Yesu Christu Jayanti 2000"and its effective follow-up In order to prepare the priests religious and the laity the Diocesan Senate conducted the Diocesan Synod This will help the Church of Kurnool to plan out pastoral spiritual and human developmental activities in the diocese With the Eucharistic Congress the Jubilee Celebration in the Diocese has been formally concluded

Hats off to all those who worked marvelously and invincibly in the vineyard of Lord and hope that the forthcoming generations will live up to expectations and dreams of our predecessors

After the sudden demise of Bishop Gorantla Johannes on 20th January 2007 the Diocese of Kurnool has been waiting for the new Bishop It was on 8th February 2008 His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Rev Msgr Anthony Poola as the Bishop of Kurnool and on 19th April 2008 he was consecrated as bishop of kurnool

Good news to the poorƒ- is the motto of Bishop Poola Anthony and he earnestly looks forward for the whole hearted cooperation and collaboration of all to realize his motto and to develop the dioese in all levels