The Belgaum Diocese was erected on September 19, 1953 by the Papal Bull "Summa illa Sollicitudo" of Pope Pius XII. Two civil districts of Belgaum and North Kanara were separated from the Archdiocese of Goa and two other civil districts of Dharwad and Bijapur were taken from the Diocese of Pune in forming the Diocese of Belgaum.

The most Rev. Dr. Michael Rodrigues was appointed the first Bishop. By a the Papal Bull "Christi Missium" of Paul VI, the North Kanara District was separated from the Belgaum Diocese to form the Karwar Diocese on January 24, 1976.

It now consists of the civil districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri in Karnataka State and the Chandgad taluka in Kolhapur District of Maharashtra State.

Bp PETER MACHADO
Bishop of Belgaum
Born: May 26, 1954
Priestly Ordn.: Dec. 08, 1978
Episcopal Ordn.: Mar. 30, 2006

Address:
Bishop of Belgaum
Bishop's House,
B.C. 69, Belgaum, 
Karnataka - 590 001.

Tel: (0831) 42 05 87      
Fax: (0831) 42 42 26
E-mail: belgaumdiocese@rediffmail.com

Area:  44,215 sq.kms.
Total population: 11,939,363
Christians: 25,000
Catholics: 29,575
Languages spoken: Konkani, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi and English 
Revenue districts: Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri in Karnataka state and Chandgad taluka of Maharashtra.

Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 62
Religious Priests: 30
Religious Brothers: 08
Religious Women: 350
No. of Parishes: 51
Houses of Women Religious: 55
Houses of Men Religious: 20

Formation Houses
Minor Seminaries: 02
Others: 05

No. of Educational Institutions
Colleges: 01, Students: 250
Technical Institutions: 09, Students: 450
Collegiates (P.U.C.): 03, Students: 425
High Schools (10th std): 21, Students: 14,250
Primary Schools: 27, Students: 14,100
Hospitals: 02, Beds: 250
Dispensaries: 10, Beneficiaries (Annual)..14,000
Other Institutions: 25, Beneficiaries (Annual): 2,200