Diocese of Guntur
Rite: Latin
Region : Andhra Pradesh
Patron: St. Theresa of Child Jesus
Founded: 13 February 1940
Province: Vishakapatnam
Status: Diocese
Total area: 12,803
Total Population : 50,85,210
Catholics Total: 2, 18, 900
Diocesan Priests: 140
Religious Priests: 66
Religious Sisters: 540
Minor Seminarians: 21
Major Seminarians: 54
Diocese of Guntur at a Glance
Ecclesiastical Institutions
Parishes & Substations | : 629 | Retreat Centres | : 0 |
Major Seminaries | : 0 | Diocesan Minor Seminaries | : 01 |
Congregation Minor Seminaries | : 05 | Religious Formation Houses | : 01 |
Men Religious Houses | : 18 | Women Religious Houses | : 82 |
Hospitals | : 12 | Dispensaries / Clinics / Health Centres | : 21 |
Orphanages | : 82 | Homes for Aged & Destitute | : 05 |
Schools for Physically Challenged | : 01 | Homes for Physically Challenged | : 02 |
Crèches | : 0 | Boarding Houses | : 86 |
Counselling Centres | : 01 | De-addiction Centre | : 0 |
Social Centres | : 10 | HIV / AIDS Centre | : 04 |
Professional Colleges | : 07 | Degree Colleges | : 03 |
Parallel Colleges | : 12 | Vocational / Technical Training Centres | : 20 |
Higher Secondary / Junior Colleges | : 12 | High Schools | : 67 |
Upper Primary Schools | : 06 | Lower Primary Schools | :112 |
Nurseries / Pre-Primary Schools | :24 | Presses & Media Centres | : 0 |
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.
Right Rev. Gali Bali
Bishop Emeritus of Guntur
Personal Details
Born:29-Apr-1939
Priestly Ordination:19-Dec-1964
Episcopal Ordination:23-Oct-1984
Period:--
Tel(P): 07396689236
Email(P): galibali@hotmail.com
Contact Details
Karunya Nilayam
Chandramouli Nagar,
Guntur - 522 007 (Andhra Pradesh)
Tel(O): 0863-23 50 720
Fax : 23 51 234
Name | Designation | Period |
Most Rev. Mariadas Kagithapu | Bishop | 1977-1983 |
|
Most Rev. Balshoury Thanugundla | Bishop | 1974-1974 |
|
Most Rev. Ignatius Mummadi | Bishop | 1943-1974 |
|
Most Rev. Thomas Pothecamury | Bishop | 1940-1943 |
|