Diocese of Vijayawada

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Bishop(s) Prakash Mallavarapup, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 21 October 1950 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: India Square Kilometers: 8,734 (3,373 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 171, 59 A-1-7 Ring Road, Patamata, Vijayawada-520008, Krishna Dt., A.P., India Telephone: (0866)471.355; 471.093 Fax: 475.955

Historical Details

• Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada
  • Latin Name: Betsuadensis
  • Erected: 10 January 1933
  • Country: India

• Diocese of Bezwada
  • Latin Name: Betsuadensis
  • Elevated: 13 April 1937
  • Country: India

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. † ( 1933 Appointed - 9 May 1951 Died)
• Ambrose 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 Mallavarapup (26 Jul 2002 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bezwada
10 January 1933	Erected	Diocese of Hyderabad	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	Diocese of Eluru (erected)

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Statistics

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

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Ambrose De Battista, P.I.M.E. † (Bishop: 13 Dec 1951 to 23 Jan 1971)
• Domenico Grassi, P.I.M.E. † (Superior: 1933; Apostolic Administrator: 13 Apr 1937; Bishop: 3 Dec 1938 to 9 May 1951)
• Marampudi Joji (Bishop: 8 Nov 1996 to 29 Jan 2000)
• Prakash Mallavarapup (Bishop: 26 Jul 2002)
• Joseph S. Thumma † (Coadjutor Bishop: 2 Jan 1970; Bishop: 23 Jan 1971 to 8 Nov 1996)