Bellary (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Henry D’Souza, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 10 March 1949
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bangalore
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 23,002 (8,884 Square Miles)
Description: Bellary, Raichur, and Koppal districts of Karnataka
Official Web Site: https://www.bellarydiocese.in
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 57 Munro Road, Cantonment, Bellary-583104, Karnataka, India
Telephone: (08392)240.315

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ernesto Reilly, O.F.M. † ( 1928 Appointed - 1934 Died)
John Forest Hogan, O.F.M. † (20 Aug 1934 Appointed - 23 Sep 1962 Died)
Ambrose Papaiah Yeddanapalli, O.F.M. † (10 Dec 1963 Appointed - 6 Oct 1992 Retired)
Joseph D’Silva † (6 Oct 1992 Appointed - 17 Nov 2006 Died)
Henry D’Souza (15 Mar 2008 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bellary
15 June 1928	Erected	Diocese of Hyderabad (Raichur and Gulbarga) Archdiocese of Madras (Bellary)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bellary (erected)
Diocese of Bellary
10 March 1949	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bellary	Diocese of Bellary
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bellary (from Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor))
3 July 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bellary (Raydrug, Adoni, and Alur)	Diocese of Nellore
3 July 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bellary (Alumpur, Gadwal, Tandur, and Godangal)	Archdiocese of Hyderabad
24 June 2005	Territory Lost	Diocese of Belgaum (Bijapur) Diocese of Bellary (Gulbarga) Archdiocese of Hyderabad (Bidar)	Diocese of Gulbarga (erected)

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 Bellary

1950 6,595 3,000,000 .2% 8 15 23 286 61 ap1951

1959 10,262 6,000,000 .2% 7 10 17 603 91 12 ap1960

1970 9,344 3,398,399 .3% 14 12 26 359 13 113 16 ap1971

1980 14,936 5,150,000 .3% 30 8 38 393 9 149 21 ap1981

1990 18,893 5,382,393 .4% 45 3 48 393 4 174 26 ap1991

1999 25,104 6,113,504 .4% 51 11 62 404 11 206 43 ap2000

2000 25,450 6,496,450 .4% 51 14 65 391 14 217 44 ap2001

2001 25,702 6,617,902 .4% 52 13 65 395 13 203 44 ap2002

2002 26,275 6,627,975 .4% 52 17 69 380 17 216 44 ap2003

2003 26,445 6,671,245 .4% 52 22 74 357 22 218 44 ap2004

2004 26,646 6,680,846 .4% 52 23 75 355 23 222 44 ap2005

2006 26,328 4,142,000 .6% 58 21 79 333 21 176 41 ap2007

2012 29,262 4,848,448 .6% 65 25 90 325 38 207 41 ap2013

2015 30,718 6,172,289 .5% 67 33 100 307 73 253 47 ap2016

2018 33,891 6,475,386 .5% 67 31 98 345 66 239 49 ap2019

2020 34,893 6,625,835 .5% 71 43 114 306 85 223 49 ap2021

2022 35,717 6,825,835 .5% 73 38 111 321 73 222 49 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bellary
1950	6,595	3,000,000	.2%	8	15	23	286		61		ap1951
1959	10,262	6,000,000	.2%	7	10	17	603		91	12	ap1960
1970	9,344	3,398,399	.3%	14	12	26	359	13	113	16	ap1971
1980	14,936	5,150,000	.3%	30	8	38	393	9	149	21	ap1981
1990	18,893	5,382,393	.4%	45	3	48	393	4	174	26	ap1991
1999	25,104	6,113,504	.4%	51	11	62	404	11	206	43	ap2000
2000	25,450	6,496,450	.4%	51	14	65	391	14	217	44	ap2001
2001	25,702	6,617,902	.4%	52	13	65	395	13	203	44	ap2002
2002	26,275	6,627,975	.4%	52	17	69	380	17	216	44	ap2003
2003	26,445	6,671,245	.4%	52	22	74	357	22	218	44	ap2004
2004	26,646	6,680,846	.4%	52	23	75	355	23	222	44	ap2005
2006	26,328	4,142,000	.6%	58	21	79	333	21	176	41	ap2007
2012	29,262	4,848,448	.6%	65	25	90	325	38	207	41	ap2013
2015	30,718	6,172,289	.5%	67	33	100	307	73	253	47	ap2016
2018	33,891	6,475,386	.5%	67	31	98	345	66	239	49	ap2019
2020	34,893	6,625,835	.5%	71	43	114	306	85	223	49	ap2021
2022	35,717	6,825,835	.5%	73	38	111	321	73	222	49	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph D’Silva † (Bishop: 6 Oct 1992 to 17 Nov 2006)
John Forest Hogan, O.F.M. † (Superior: 20 Aug 1934; Bishop: 10 Mar 1949 to 23 Sep 1962)
Ernesto Reilly, O.F.M. † (Superior: 1928 to 1934)
Ambrose Papaiah Yeddanapalli, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 10 Dec 1963 to 6 Oct 1992)

Source(s)

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Bellary
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 20, Page 347, and Page 348
Diocese of Bellary
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 41, Page 435, to Page 437
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 83, to Page 87

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Diocese of Bellary

Dioecesis Bellaryensis

Bishop(s)

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)