Vijayawada (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, S.M.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 21 October 1950
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 8,727 (3,370 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://vijayawadadiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 59 A-1-7 Ring Road, Patamata, Vijayawada-520008, Krishna Dt., A.P., India
Telephone: (0866)2471.355
Fax: 2478.629

Historical Details

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada
- Latin Name: de Bezwada
- Erected: 10 January 1933
- Country: India
Diocese of Bezwada
- Latin Name: Betsuadensis
- Elevated: 13 April 1937
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. † (11 Nov 1933 Appointed - 9 May 1951 Died)
Ambrogio De Battista, P.I.M.E. † (13 Dec 1951 Appointed - 23 Jan 1971 Resigned)
Joseph S. Thumma † (23 Jan 1971 Succeeded - 8 Nov 1996 Retired)
Marampudi Joji † (8 Nov 1996 Appointed - 29 Jan 2000 Appointed, Archbishop of Hyderabad)
Prakash Mallavarapu (26 Jul 2002 Appointed - 3 Jul 2012 Appointed, Archbishop of Visakhapatnam)
Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, S.M.M. (19 Dec 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada
10 January 1933	Erected	Diocese of Hyderabad (Kistna and the Western Godavery)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada (erected)
Diocese of Bezwada
13 April 1937	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada	Diocese of Bezwada
Diocese of Vijayawada
21 October 1950	Name Changed	Diocese of Bezwada	Diocese of Vijayawada
9 December 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Vijayawada (West Godavari and part of East Godavari)	Diocese of Eluru (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Vijayawada

1950 60,263 3,471,849 1.7% 6 35 41 1,469 65 17 ap1951

1970 147,001 5,500,000 2.7% 52 36 88 1,670 60 423 45 ap1971

1980 129,559 2,545,000 5.1% 44 31 75 1,727 76 389 43 ap1981

1990 171,024 3,872,655 4.4% 60 49 109 1,569 96 522 56 ap1991

1999 214,343 4,206,362 5.1% 72 66 138 1,553 120 692 74 ap2000

2000 224,514 4,299,875 5.2% 73 70 143 1,570 120 689 77 ap2002

2002 269,983 4,388,608 6.2% 74 73 147 1,836 125 700 77 ap2003

2003 233,802 4,938,409 4.7% 76 79 155 1,508 129 715 77 ap2004

2004 253,704 5,142,614 4.9% 82 79 161 1,575 128 715 77 ap2005

2010 277,673 5,038,000 5.5% 120 91 211 1,315 346 716 89 ap2011

2014 257,913 4,569,628 5.6% 126 94 220 1,172 341 791 98 ap2015

2017 267,050 4,730,650 5.6% 126 103 229 1,166 346 789 98 ap2018

2020 297,258 4,891,890 6.1% 137 133 270 1,100 235 979 100 ap2021

2022 301,487 7,001,562 4.3% 141 148 289 1,043 192 1,052 103 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Vijayawada
1950	60,263	3,471,849	1.7%	6	35	41	1,469		65	17	ap1951
1970	147,001	5,500,000	2.7%	52	36	88	1,670	60	423	45	ap1971
1980	129,559	2,545,000	5.1%	44	31	75	1,727	76	389	43	ap1981
1990	171,024	3,872,655	4.4%	60	49	109	1,569	96	522	56	ap1991
1999	214,343	4,206,362	5.1%	72	66	138	1,553	120	692	74	ap2000
2000	224,514	4,299,875	5.2%	73	70	143	1,570	120	689	77	ap2002
2002	269,983	4,388,608	6.2%	74	73	147	1,836	125	700	77	ap2003
2003	233,802	4,938,409	4.7%	76	79	155	1,508	129	715	77	ap2004
2004	253,704	5,142,614	4.9%	82	79	161	1,575	128	715	77	ap2005
2010	277,673	5,038,000	5.5%	120	91	211	1,315	346	716	89	ap2011
2014	257,913	4,569,628	5.6%	126	94	220	1,172	341	791	98	ap2015
2017	267,050	4,730,650	5.6%	126	103	229	1,166	346	789	98	ap2018
2020	297,258	4,891,890	6.1%	137	133	270	1,100	235	979	100	ap2021
2022	301,487	7,001,562	4.3%	141	148	289	1,043	192	1,052	103	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Ambrogio De Battista, P.I.M.E. † (Bishop: 13 Dec 1951 to 23 Jan 1971)
Mathew Cheriankunnel, P.I.M.E. † (Priest: 28 Apr 1962 to 3 May 1969)
Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. † (Superior: 11 Nov 1933; Apostolic Administrator: 13 Apr 1937; Bishop: 3 Dec 1938 to 9 May 1951)
Marampudi Joji † (Bishop: 8 Nov 1996 to 29 Jan 2000)
Joseph S. Thumma † (Coadjutor Bishop: 2 Jan 1970; Bishop: 23 Jan 1971 to 8 Nov 1996)

Source(s)

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 25, Page 485, and Page 486
Diocese of Bezwada
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 29, Page 415, to Page 417
Diocese of Vijayawada
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 127

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