Roman Catholic Diocese of Vijayawada

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Diocese of Vijayawada Dioecesis Viiayavadanus
Location
Country	India
Territory	Andhra Pradesh
Ecclesiastical province	Visakhapatnam
Metropolitan	Visakhapatnam
Statistics
Area	8,734 km2 (3,372 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2017) 4,730,650 359,530 (7.6%)
Parishes	98
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	10 January 1933
Cathedral	St Paul’s Cathedral in Vijayawada
Co-cathedral	St Peter’s Co-Cathedral in Vijayawada
Patron Saints	Saints Peter and Paul
Secular priests	276
Language	Telugu, English
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Thelagathoti J. Raja Rao, S.M.M.
Metropolitan Archbishop	Prakash Mallavarapu
Vicar General	Msgr. Muvvala Prasad, Msgr. Mesapam Gabriel
Map
Website
www.vijayawadadiocese.org

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(.35 million) among all the Suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.

• 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

As of 2017 the Catholic population of the diocese was 3,50,000. 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

• 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)

• Gunadala Matha Shrine
• Br Joseph Thamby Shrine Avutapally
• Lourdu Matha Shrine, Vennanapudi

• St. Ambrose Minor Seminary, Nuzivid (1957)
• Angel Minor Seminary, Nuzivid
• St.Paul's Regional Seminary(1984)
• St.Joseph's Major Seminary, Chinavutapalli (2000)

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

• RADIO MARIA, Vijayawada.
• DIVYAVANI TV Zonal Productions, Vijayawada.
• IN VINCULO CHRISTI (Published since 1957)

• Servant of God Joseph Thamby, OFS^[1]

• Official Website
• Official YouTube Channel
• Gunadala Matha Shrine
• Divyavani TV
• CBCI
• CCBI
• Vailankanni Shrine
• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy
• UCAN
• The Vatican

16°29′58″N 80°39′24″E / 16.4995°N 80.6567°E / 16.4995; 80.6567