The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada (Latin: Viiayavadan(us)) is a diocese located in the city of Vijayawada in the ecclesiastical province of Visakhapatnam in India. Administratively, the diocese encompasses the geographical Krishna district of the state of Andhra Pradesh . The Diocese of Vijayawada has the largest Catholic population (359,000) among all the Suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.
Contents
History
10 January 1933: Established as Mission “sui iuris” of Bezwada from the Diocese of Hyderabad
13 April 1937: Promoted as Diocese of Bezwada
21 October 1950: Renamed as Diocese of Vijayawada
Diocesan demographics
As of 2017 the Catholic population of the diocese was 350,000. These Catholics were served by 189 diocesan priests and 32 priests of religious orders in 98 parishes. Also laboring in the diocese were 37 religious brothers and 795 nuns.
Leadership
Bishop Thelagathoti J. Raja Rao, S.M.M. (2 February 2016 – Present)
Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu (26 July 2002 – 3 July 2012); named Metropolitan Archbishop of Visakhapatnam
Bishop Marampudi Joji (Later Archbishop) (8 November 1996 – 29 January 2000)
Bishop Joseph S. Thumma (23 January 1971 – 8 November 1996)
Bishop Ambrose De Battista, P.I.M.E. (13 December 1951 – 23 January 1971)
Shrines
Gunadala Matha Shrine
Br Joseph Thamby Shrine Avutapally
Lourdu Matha Shrine, Vennanapudi
Seminaries
St. Ambrose Minor Seminary, Nuzivid (1957)
Angel Minor Seminary, Nuzivid
St.Paul's Regional Seminary (1984)
St.Joseph's Major Seminary, Chinavutapalli (2000)
Education
As of 2019, the diocese has 27 Elementary Schools, 9 Upper primary Schools, 50 High Schools, 3 Higher Secondary Schools, 10 Colleges, 2 Nursing training Institutes, 10 Non-Formal training centers, 16 Parish Elementary Schools departing education from pre-kindergarten through Post Graduation.
Catholic Institutions of Repute :
Andhra Loyola college
Maris Stella College
NSM Public School,
Nirmala High School
VSt.Johns, Gannavaram
Atkinsons High
St.Mary's English Medium School, Kankipadu
Media & Publications
RADIO MARIA, Vijayawada.
DIVYAVANI TV Zonal Productions, Vijayawada.
IN VINCULO CHRISTI (Published since 1957)
Saints and causes for canonisation
Servant of God Joseph Thamby, OFS