Dioceses of India
Total: 1
Guntur 

Diocese of Guntur 

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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 : 629Retreat Centres: 0
Major Seminaries : 0Diocesan Minor Seminaries: 01
Congregation Minor Seminaries: 05Religious Formation Houses : 01
Men Religious Houses: 18Women Religious Houses: 82

Charitable Institutions

Hospitals : 12Dispensaries / Clinics / Health Centres: 21
Orphanages : 82Homes for Aged & Destitute : 05
Schools for Physically Challenged: 01Homes for Physically Challenged : 02
Crèches: 0Boarding Houses : 86
Counselling Centres : 01De-addiction Centre: 0
Social Centres : 10HIV / AIDS Centre: 04

Educational Institutions

Professional Colleges : 07Degree Colleges: 03
Parallel Colleges : 12Vocational / Technical Training Centres : 20
Higher Secondary / Junior Colleges : 12High Schools : 67
Upper Primary Schools: 06Lower Primary Schools:112
Nurseries / Pre-Primary Schools :24Presses & Media Centres : 0

History

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.

Former Bishops

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
NameDesignationPeriod
Most Rev. Mariadas KagithapuBishop1977-1983
Most Rev. Balshoury ThanugundlaBishop1974-1974
Most Rev. Ignatius MummadiBishop1943-1974
Most Rev. Thomas PothecamuryBishop1940-1943