The Pope creates
the diocese of Gulbarga and appoints first bishop
Vatican City (Fides Service) -
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 24 June 2005 created the diocese
of Gulbarga (India) with territory taken from the archdiocese of
Hyderabad and the dioceses of Bellary and Belgaum making it suffragan
of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. The Holy Father appointed first
Bishop of Gulbarga Rev. Robert Miranda a member of the Mangalore
clergy and until now Episcopal vicar of Bidar.
|
|
Bidar
(Mangalore) |
Gulbarga
(Bellary) |
Bijapur
(Belgaum) |
Totale
(Gulbarga) |
| area |
5.495
kmq. |
16.244
kmq. |
17.069
kmq. |
38.752
kmq. |
| Population |
1.252.333 |
2.582.169 |
3.177.990 |
7.012.492 |
| Catholics |
4.675 |
1.600 |
150 |
6.425 |
| Parishes |
9 |
6 |
1 |
16 |
| "Sub
Stations" |
61 |
34 |
6 |
101 |
| Diocesani
priests |
19 |
6 |
|
25 |
| Religious
priests |
|
|
4 |
4 |
| Brothers
|
4 |
2 |
|
6 |
| Sisters |
46 |
14 |
45 |
105 |
| Schools |
6 |
15 |
3 |
24 |
The parish church Mother Mary of Divine Grace at Gulbarga will serve as the
cathedral for the new diocese.
The first Bishop of Guibarga Robert Mirando was born on April 10,
1952 at Kirem, diocese of Mangalore. After attending primary and
secondary Catholic schools and St. Aloysius College, Mangalore,
he studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph’s Major Seminary,
Mangalore and ordained a priest on 4 May 1978. He has since been:
assistant parish priest at Moodubelle and later at the Cathedral.
In 1982 he was charged with opening Bidar mission and in 1999 was
appointed Episcopal vicar of the mission. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides
24/6/2005)
|
CATHOLIC CHURCH STATISTICS