Diocese of

Vijayawada

India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Area: 8,374 km²

Population: 263,126 Catholics (5.6% of 4,670,000 total) (2015)

Ecclesiastical Province: Visakhapatnam

Neighbouring Dioceses: Guntur (↙), Eluru (↗)

Depends on: Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

Patron Saint: Sts. Peter and Paul

Statistics: 98 parishes, 5 missions, 230 priests (124 diocesan, 106 religious), 1,147 lay religious (352 brothers, 795 sisters), 41 seminarians (2015)

History

1933.01.10: Established as Mission sui juris of Bezwada / Betsuaden(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Hyderabad)
1937.04.13: Promoted as Diocese of Bezwada / Betsuaden(sis) (Latin)
1950.10.21: Renamed as Diocese of Vijayawada / Viiayavadan(us) (Latin)
1976.12.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Eluru

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Co-Cathedral: St. Peter’s Co-Cathedral, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

Guntur (↙), Eluru (↗)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.12.19 – ...):

Bishop Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, S.M.M. (66)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Vijayawada (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Raja Rao Thelegathoti, S.M.M. (66)
(2015.12.19 – ...)

Bishop of Vijayawada (India)

To unite in love

Born:	1952.03.08 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1980.06.07
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.02.02

Bishop of Vijayawada (India) (2015.12.19 – ...)

Bishop Joji Govindu (74)
(Apostolic Administrator 2012.08.09 – 2015.12.19)

Bishop Prakash Mallavarapup (69) (later Archbishop)
(2002.07.26 – 2012.07.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Visakhapatnam (India)

Good news for all

Born:	1949.01.29 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1979.10.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.07.22

Bishop of Cuddapah (India) (1998.05.22 – 2002.07.26)

Bishop of Vijayawada (India) (2002.07.26 – 2012.07.03)

Secretary General of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (2005 – 2011)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Nellore (India) (2005.10.22 – 2006.12.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Eluru (India) (2009.08.25 – 2013.06.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Visakhapatnam (India) (2012.07.03 – ...)

Bishop Marampudi Joji (later Archbishop)
(1996.11.08 – 2000.01.29)

Born:	1942.10.07 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1971.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.03.19
Died:	2010.08.27 († 67)

Bishop of Khammam (India) (1991.12.21 – 1996.11.08)

Bishop of Vijayawada (India) (1996.11.08 – 2000.01.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad (India) (2000.01.29 – 2010.08.27)

Bishop Joseph S. Thumma
(1971.01.23 – 1996.11.08)

Born:	1918.12.19 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1952.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.05.07
Died:	1997.08.18 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Cunga Féichin (1970.01.02 – 1971.01.23)

Coadjutor Bishop of Vijayawada (India) (1970.01.02 – 1971.01.23)

Bishop of Vijayawada (India) (1971.01.23 – 1996.11.08)

Bishop Ambrose De Battista, P.I.M.E.
(1951.12.13 – 1971.01.23)

Born:	1905.05.22 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1928.06.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.03.19
Died:	1971.12.15 († 66)

Bishop of Vijayawada (India) (1951.12.13 – 1971.01.23)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Joseph S. Thumma (1970.01.02 – 1971.01.23)

as of 2018.12.31

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