Diocese of Bellary
Rite: Latin
Region : Karnataka
Patron: St. Antony of Padua
Founded: 10 March 1949
Province: Bangalore
Status: Diocese
Total area: 23,002 Km2
Total Population : 64,96,450
Catholics Total: 29,262
Diocesan Priests: 79
Religious Priests: 25
Religious Sisters: 207
Minor Seminarians: 12
Major Seminarians: 15
Diocese of Bellary at a Glance
Ecclesiastical Institutions
| Parishes & Substations | : 247 | Retreat Centres | : 0 |
| Major Seminaries | : 0 | Diocesan Minor Seminaries | : 01 |
| Congregation Minor Seminaries | : 01 | Religious Formation Houses | : 03 |
| Men Religious Houses | : 01 | Women Religious Houses | : 38 |
| Hospitals | : 03 | Dispensaries / Clinics / Health Centres | : 10 |
| Orphanages | : 01 | Homes for Aged & Destitute | : 02 |
| Schools for Physically Challenged | : 01 | Homes for Physically Challenged | : 01 |
| Crèches | : 0 | Boarding Houses | : 40 |
| Counselling Centres | : 01 | De-addiction Centre | : 01 |
| Social Centres | : 08 | HIV / AIDS Centre | : 01 |
| Professional Colleges | : 01 | Degree Colleges | : 01 |
| Parallel Colleges | : 0 | Vocational / Technical Training Centres | : 10 |
| Higher Secondary / Junior Colleges | : 06 | High Schools | : 26 |
| Upper Primary Schools | : 38 | Lower Primary Schools | :01 |
| Nurseries / Pre-Primary Schools | :37 | Presses & Media Centres | : 0 |
The word of God that was preached and lived by the Franciscan fathers in the 16th Century did accomplish its task in its own way. The Diocese of Bellary owes its faith and growth to the Franciscan fathers. Thanks to the efforts of the pioneering father such as Bishop John Forest Hogan. In 1928, the Holy See detached the two districts of Raichur and Gulbarga from the Diocese of Hyderabad and the district of Bellary from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore and formed the new Mission "Sui Juris" of Bellary. It was entrusted to the pastoral care of the Order of Friars Minor of the English Province. In the course of twenty years, its development was considered sufficient to be constituted as a Diocese. This took place in 1949 with Rt. Rev. John Forest Hogan, ofm, as the first Bishop. The Diocese of Bellary now consists of the five districts of Bellary, Raichur, Gulbarga, Koppal and Davanagere all in Karnataka state.
| Name | Designation | Period |
| Most Rev. Joseph D'Silva | Bishop | 1993-2005 |
|
| Most Rev. Ambrose P. Yeddanapalli OFM (1963-1991) | Bishop | 1963-1991 |
|
| Most Rev. John Forest Hogan OFM | Bishop | 1949-1962 |
|