Rajkot (Syro-Malabar Eparchy) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Chittooparambil, C.M.I., Bishop
Gregory Karotemprel, C.M.I., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Eparchy
Erected: 26 February 1977
Metropolitan: Archeparchy of Kalyan (Syro-Malabar)
Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of the Chaldean Tradition
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 109,950 (42,468 Square Miles)
Description: Gujarat: Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Kutch, Morbi, Gir Somnath, Botad, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli, along with the Union Territory of Diu Island
Official Web Site: http://www.rajkotdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Kalawad Rd., P.O. Box 1501, Rajkot-360005, Gujarat, India
Telephone: (0281)2563.415; 2563.203

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jonas Thaliath, C.M.I. † (26 Feb 1977 Appointed - 7 Nov 1981 Died)
Gregory Karotemprel, C.M.I. (22 Jan 1983 Appointed - 16 Jul 2010 Retired)
José Chittooparambil, C.M.I. (16 Jul 2010 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
26 February 1977	Erected	Diocese of Ahmedabad (Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kutch (Bhuj), Rajkot, and Surendranagar)	Eparchy of Rajkot (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
11 November 2002	Metropolitan Changed		Eparchy of Rajkot (Syro-Malabar) (from Bombay)
28 August 2025	Metropolitan Changed		Eparchy of Rajkot (Syro-Malabar) (from Gandhinagar)
28 August 2025	Territory Added		Eparchy of Rajkot (Syro-Malabar) (Added Gujarat: Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Aravalli, along with the Union Territory of Diu Island)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1980 6,689 9,381,000 .1% 32 32 209 34 45 10 ap1981

1990 9,132 12,384,000 .1% 44 44 207 95 204 40 ap1991

1999 9,800 15,000,000 .1% 5 73 78 125 125 290 47 ap2000

2000 9,800 15,000,000 .1% 7 82 89 110 125 305 47 ap2001

2001 10,000 15,000,000 .1% 9 92 101 99 140 317 47 ap2002

2002 11,000 15,000,000 .1% 17 96 113 97 153 330 46 ap2003

2003 11,500 15,017,107 .1% 11 106 117 98 157 352 46 ap2004

2004 12,000 15,017,107 .1% 16 108 124 96 152 390 12 ap2005

2009 13,500 15,805,000 .1% 27 122 149 90 157 449 14 ap2010

2010 13,000 16,025,000 .1% 28 128 156 83 168 457 14 ap2011

2014 13,000 16,900,000 .1% 33 96 129 100 123 502 14 ap2015

2017 13,170 17,703,293 .1% 37 82 119 110 103 470 14 ap2018

2020 13,600 18,334,400 .1% 39 95 134 101 114 499 14 ap2021

2022 13,900 18,703,000 .1% 38 95 133 104 107 448 15 ap2023

2023 14,040 18,890,000 .1% 39 94 133 105 109 455 15 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1980	6,689	9,381,000	.1%		32	32	209	34	45	10	ap1981
1990	9,132	12,384,000	.1%		44	44	207	95	204	40	ap1991
1999	9,800	15,000,000	.1%	5	73	78	125	125	290	47	ap2000
2000	9,800	15,000,000	.1%	7	82	89	110	125	305	47	ap2001
2001	10,000	15,000,000	.1%	9	92	101	99	140	317	47	ap2002
2002	11,000	15,000,000	.1%	17	96	113	97	153	330	46	ap2003
2003	11,500	15,017,107	.1%	11	106	117	98	157	352	46	ap2004
2004	12,000	15,017,107	.1%	16	108	124	96	152	390	12	ap2005
2009	13,500	15,805,000	.1%	27	122	149	90	157	449	14	ap2010
2010	13,000	16,025,000	.1%	28	128	156	83	168	457	14	ap2011
2014	13,000	16,900,000	.1%	33	96	129	100	123	502	14	ap2015
2017	13,170	17,703,293	.1%	37	82	119	110	103	470	14	ap2018
2020	13,600	18,334,400	.1%	39	95	134	101	114	499	14	ap2021
2022	13,900	18,703,000	.1%	38	95	133	104	107	448	15	ap2023
2023	14,040	18,890,000	.1%	39	94	133	105	109	455	15	ap2024