Roman Catholic Diocese of Shimoga
| Diocese of Shimoga Dioecesis Shimogaensis शिमोगा के सूबा | |
|---|---|
 Sacred Heart Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Country | India |
| Ecclesiastical province | Bangalore |
| Metropolitan | Bangalore |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 21,405 km2 (8,265 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2010) 7,822,000 21,006 (0.3%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Sacred Heart Cathedral in Shimoga |
| Patron saint | Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Sede Vacante |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Bernard Moras |
| Apostolic Administrator | Henry D’Souza |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Shimoga (Latin: Shimogaen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Shimoga in the Ecclesiastical province of Bangalore in India.
History
- 14 November 1988: Established as Diocese of Shimoga from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangalore and Diocese of Chikmagalur
The Diocese of Shimoga was erected on 14 November 1988, by virtue of the Apostolic Decree of Pope John Paul II, entitled Id Spectantes. This Diocese initially comprised two civil districts: Chitradurga and Shimoga. Shimoga district was separated from the Diocese of Chikmagalur and Chitradurga from the ArchDiocese of Bangalore. This is the eighth Diocese in Karnataka and is a suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Bangalore. In 1997 during the time of reorganization of districts, certain places from the districts of Shimoga and Chitradurga were put together to carve out the new district of Davangere, which came into existence on 15 August 1997. Thus, the Diocese of Shimoga now comprises three civil districts namely Shimoga,Chitradurga and Davangere. At present the Diocese has 20 parishes, 10 independent mission Centres with resident priests, 20 sub-stations. There are 50 diocesan priests and 18 religious priests working in the Diocese. About 200 religious sisters belonging to 23 different religious congregations render spiritual, educational and health services in the Diocese On 14 November 1988 the Rt Rev. Msgr. Ignatius Pinto, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Bangalore was appointed its First Bishop by His Holiness Pope John Paul II through his Apostolic Letter "Bonevolentiam Quidem Nostram." The Episcopal Ordination of the first bishop of Shimoga took place on 31 January 1989, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral ground, Shimoga. He was promoted as Archbishop of Bangalore on 10 September 1998 and installed on 25 November 1998.
In 2000 the Holy See appointed Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo as the Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga. He was ordained Bishop by Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Pinto, on 20 March 2000 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. On 16 July 2012 He was appointed as first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Udupi and installed on 15 October 2012.
http://www.shimogadiocese.org/index.html
Leadership
- Bishops of Shimoga (Latin rite)
- Bishop Francis Serrao (ordained - 7 May 2014)
- Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo (20 March 2000 – 16 July 2012)(nominated bishop of Udupi)
- Bishop Ignatius Paul Pinto (later Archbishop) (14 November 1988 – 10 September 1998)