Roman Catholic Diocese of Eluru

The Diocese of Eluru comprises the whole of West Godavari district and the Mandals of Amalapuram, Kothapeta, Rajole and Mummidivaram of East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh,India. This territory was bifurcated from the Diocese of Vijayawada and erected into a Diocese by the Papal Bull 'Dubitantes' of Pope Paul VI dated December 9, 1976.

Bishop

MOST. REV. JOHN MULAGADA D.DBorn : Dec. 12, 1937Priestly Ordn.: Jan. 04, 1965El: February 26th 1977;Episcopal Ordn.: May 05, 1977

Patron

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.Area: 4, 300 km².Total population: 75, 00,000Catholics: 2, 75, 000Language: Telugu

History

The Diocese of Eluru comprises the whole of West Godavari District and Amalapuram, Kothapeta, Razole Taluks of East Godavari territory was bifurcated from the Diocese of Vijayawada and erected into a diocese by the Papal Bull ‘Dubitantes’ of Pope Paul VI dated December 9th 1976.Most Rev. John Mulagada was appointed the first Bishop of Eluru.

Officials

Vicar General : Msgr. V.C.AbrahamChancellor : Fr. Bosco RajendraSecretary : Fr. T.EmmanuelNotary & Procurator : Fr. P. BalaEpiscopal Vicars : Fr. Ch.Innaiah, Fr. Ch.Anthony and Fr. Jeya PrakashConsultors : Vicar General, Episcopal Vicars, Chancellor, Procurator, Fr. Matthew Kalikat H.G.N, Fr. Melchoir Raja Durgam PIME Fr. John Peter and Fr. P.Solomon Raju.Councillors : Fr. Ch.Innaiah, Fr. Ch.Anthony and Fr. Jaya Prakash: Vicar General, Episcopal Vicars, Chancellor, Procurator,Fr. Matthew Kalikat H.G.N , Fr. Melchoir Raja DurgamPIME Fr. John Peter and Fr. P.SolomonCatechetics and Bible : Fr. T.GabrielCatholic Charities : Fr. G.MosesVocations : Fr. K.RayappaLaity & Family : Fr. Maria EliasEducation : Fr. I.MichaelPontifical Mission Aids : Fr. R Maria Joji, M.FLiturgy : Fr. M.Vijay KumarYouth : Fr. Kaki CharlesJyothirmai : Fr. P.Bala and Fr. T.EmmanuelMedia : Fr. Pariyal Joseph SSPAPSSS : Fr. G.Moses

Eluru DioceseLATIN RITEProvince of Visakapatnam

Educational Institutions (Colleges)
* De-Paul Junior College & Hostel for Boys and Girls Pinakadimi, (Via) Eluru-534 004, W.G.Dt. Tel: [phone]
* De-Paul Degree College & Hostel for Boys and Girls Pinakadimi, (Via) Eluru-534 004, W.G.Dt. Tel: [phone]
* De-Paul P.G. College and Hostel (P.G), Pinakadimi, (Via) Eluru-534 004, W.G.Dt. Tel: [phone]
* Gowripatnam: Gowripatnam: Nirmalahridhay Junior College & Hostel for Girls Nirmalagiri-534 313, W.G.Dt Tel: [phone]
* Nirmalahridhay Degree College & Hostel for Girls, Nirmalagiri-534 313, W.G.Dt Tel: [phone]
* St. Lucy Junior College & Hostel for Girls, Mariapuram, Janampeta, Vijayarai, Pedavegi Mandal, W.G.Dt.
* St. Theresa’s Junior College & Hostel for Women, Eluru-534 002, W.G.Dt. Tel: [phone] / 222457
* St. Theresa’s Autonomous College & Hostel for Women, Gavaravaram, Eluru-534003,W.G.Dt. Tel:[phone]
* St. Theresa’s P.G. College & Hostel for Women, Gavaravaram, Eluru-534 003,W.G.Dt. Tel: [phone]

HIGH SCHOOLS - 35

ELEMENTRY SCHOOLS - 66

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
* Ave Maria Deenanada Institute of Computer Sciences, Lakkavaram, E.G.Dt.
* St. Joseph’s Technical School for Girls, Eluru-534 007, W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]
* St. Xavier’s I.T.I for Boys, Eluru-534 007, W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]
* St. John’s Computer Institute, Lakkavaram, E.G.Dt.
* Morning Star Institute for Girls, Vidyanagar, Eluru-534 007,Tel: [phone]
* St. Joseph’s Institute for Girls, Timmarajpalem, Nidadavole-534 007, W.G.Dt.
* Tanuku: Vimal Technical School for Girls, Tanuku-534 311, W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]
* Vijayarai: Carmelite Technical School for Girls, Vijayarai-534 311, W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]
* St. Theresa’s Community College, Gavaravaram, Eluru-534 003,W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]
* St. John’s Vocational Training Centre , Alliveedu, Vijairai, Eluru-534 475, W.G.Dt.

Professional Colleges
* Bl. Mother Vannini BSC College of Nursing, Kadakatla, Thadepalligudem, W.G.Dt
* Bl. Mother Vannini School of College of Nursing, Kadakatla, Thadepalligudem, W.G.Dt
* St. Joseph Dental College, Duggirala, Eluru, W.G.Dt-534007Tel: [phone] / 277583
* St. John’s College of Education, Somavarapupadu, Eluru, W.G.Dt.

SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES
* APSSS Regional Centre, Xaviernagar, Eluru-534 007, W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]
* Diocesan Social Service Centre, Xavier Nagar, Eluru-534 007, W.G.Dt.Tel: [phone]

Orphanages and Boarding Homes - 70

HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES - 31

PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS

Heralds of Good News Press, Rly Station Road, Eluru-534005, W.G.Dt

Illuminare Omnes, Diocesan News Letter, Vianney College, Janampeta, W.G.DtNews Letter of St. Joseph’s Dental College (Quarterly), Duggirala, Eluru, W.G.Dt.

Prema-Seva, Monthly News Letter of St. Vincent De Paul, Eluru, W.G.Dt

Vignananilayam, Philosophical Annual (Vignanadeepti), Janampeta-W.G.Dt.

ST. JOSEPH DENTAL COLLAGE AT DUGGIRALA, ELURU

St. Joseph Dental collage, 4.5 km away from the bishop’s house, is another feature in the cap of the diocese. It was established with much difficulty in the year 2001. This stands as the first and only dental collage run by a catholic diocese in India.

It secured permission from the government of India in 2002 and the first batch of students was admitted in October 2002. The second batch of students were admitted in October 2003 and the present batch (the third batch) in October 2004. Now there are 400 students in all. This is a four–year course with an additional year Internship (house surgeoncy).

The Apostolic Nuncio visited the collage on 13 February 2004 and inaugurated the collage formally in the presence of the Bishops of Andhra Pradesh. It has got independent hostels for boys and girls, staff quarters with in the campus.

THE DIOCESAN SHRINE OF OUR LDY OF NIRMALAGIRI

The shrine of Our Lady was established in the year 1981. When the Bishop was going to Rajamundry, his car got punctured on the way, the place of the present day Shrine. The Bishop was inspired to have a shrine for Mother Mary. Slowly the Shrine grew year by year and today it has the biggest Shrine Church in the Costal Andhra with various services available to the people. There is a hospital run by the Destitute Sisters. A High school and a collage exist at the foot of the Hill. The lay people of the Vincent de Paul Society opposite the hill manage a home for the aged. The Indian model temple on the hill and the adjacent Prema Seva Ashram give a grandiose look to the place. Every day middy meals are served to the pilgrims freely. Hundreds of people visit the Shrine daily. Thousands visit on weekdays and lakhs of people visit on the annual pilgrimage days from 22March to 25 March. The annual festival is on the Solemnity of the Annunciation.

The Shrine Church was consecrated by Most Rev. Baldisseri, the then Nuncio in 2000 (Grand Jubilee memorial). Most Rev. Lepez Quintana, the present Nuncio visited the Shrine Church on 12 February, 2004.

The major seminary, Janampet

10 km away from Eluru, Janampet is a center of ecclesiastical learning. It was established in 1984. The Bishop secured 100 acres of land here and invited various religious to have their houses of formation. The Capuchins run the seminary called St. Francis Collage.

The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS), Holy Spirit Fathers (OSS), Camillian Fathers, Congregation of the missions, Vincentian Congregation, OCDs St. Paul’s and houses of women religious like the Maestre Pie Filippini, Little Sisters of Christ, St. Ann of Luzenrn are here. The seminarians appear for B.A. of Andhra University and their Philosophy is affiliated to the same University. Theology is affiliated to Urbanium University, Rome. The diocese has its own formation houses called Vianney College–A B for Philosophers and Theologians.

The entire campus owes it existence to His Excellency, Bishop John Mulagada’s vision and concern for formation of young men and women. It is he who started the Major Seminary and entrusted it with OFM Capuchins.