Belgaum (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Derek Fernandes, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 19 September 1953
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bangalore
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 33,747 (13,034 Square Miles)
Description: Civil districts of Belgaum, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri in Karnataka State and the Changad Taluk in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra State
Official Web Site: https://www.belgaumdiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, B.C. 69, Belgaum-590001, Karnataka, India
Telephone: (0831)2420.587

Past and Present Ordinaries

Michael Rodrigues † (19 Sep 1953 Appointed - 15 Mar 1964 Resigned)
Fortunato da Veiga Coutinho † (15 Mar 1964 Succeeded - 8 Feb 1967 Died)
Ignatius P. Lobo † (26 Sep 1967 Appointed - 1 Dec 1994 Retired)
Bernard Blasius Moras (30 Nov 1996 Appointed - 22 Jul 2004 Appointed, Archbishop of Bangalore)
Peter Machado (2 Feb 2006 Appointed - 19 Mar 2018 Appointed, Archbishop of Bangalore)
Derek Fernandes (1 May 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
19 September 1953	Erected	Archdiocese of Goa e Damão (Belgaum and North Kanara) Diocese of Poona (Dharwad and Bijapur)	Diocese of Belgaum (erected)
24 January 1976	Territory Lost	Diocese of Belgaum (North Kanara (Uttara Kannada))	Diocese of Karwar (erected)
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

1959 46,673 5,213,256 .9% 37 15 52 897 15 111 32 ap1960

1970 53,404 7,595,309 .7% 51 107 158 338 119 206 40 ap1971

1980 28,000 7,342,000 .4% 23 22 45 622 33 239 23 ap1981

1990 28,296 8,650,000 .3% 46 39 85 332 49 214 28 ap1991

1999 29,503 9,939,363 .3% 57 41 98 301 55 245 42 ap2000

2000 29,503 9,939,363 .3% 56 41 97 304 55 251 42 ap2001

2001 29,503 9,939,363 .3% 59 42 101 292 58 258 47 ap2002

2002 29,503 9,939,363 .3% 60 53 113 261 71 267 50 ap2003

2003 29,503 11,939,363 .2% 63 57 120 245 66 359 56 ap2004

2004 29,525 11,939,363 .2% 64 56 120 246 65 361 56 ap2005

2006 29,095 9,030,000 .3% 70 55 125 232 81 357 56 ap2007

2012 30,512 10,736,000 .3% 76 64 140 217 98 593 67 ap2013

2015 27,497 10,549,045 .3% 74 84 158 174 119 349 69 ap2016

2018 24,900 10,998,000 .2% 79 79 158 157 109 372 69 ap2019

2020 24,927 11,243,290 .2% 87 79 166 150 3 109 41 69 ap2021

2022 25,128 11,425,000 .2% 83 76 159 158 110 398 69 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1959	46,673	5,213,256	.9%	37	15	52	897		15	111	32	ap1960
1970	53,404	7,595,309	.7%	51	107	158	338		119	206	40	ap1971
1980	28,000	7,342,000	.4%	23	22	45	622		33	239	23	ap1981
1990	28,296	8,650,000	.3%	46	39	85	332		49	214	28	ap1991
1999	29,503	9,939,363	.3%	57	41	98	301		55	245	42	ap2000
2000	29,503	9,939,363	.3%	56	41	97	304		55	251	42	ap2001
2001	29,503	9,939,363	.3%	59	42	101	292		58	258	47	ap2002
2002	29,503	9,939,363	.3%	60	53	113	261		71	267	50	ap2003
2003	29,503	11,939,363	.2%	63	57	120	245		66	359	56	ap2004
2004	29,525	11,939,363	.2%	64	56	120	246		65	361	56	ap2005
2006	29,095	9,030,000	.3%	70	55	125	232		81	357	56	ap2007
2012	30,512	10,736,000	.3%	76	64	140	217		98	593	67	ap2013
2015	27,497	10,549,045	.3%	74	84	158	174		119	349	69	ap2016
2018	24,900	10,998,000	.2%	79	79	158	157		109	372	69	ap2019
2020	24,927	11,243,290	.2%	87	79	166	150	3	109	41	69	ap2021
2022	25,128	11,425,000	.2%	83	76	159	158		110	398	69	ap2023