History
His
Holiness Pope John Paul II erected the Catholic Diocese of Nashik
consisting of the territory detached from the Diocese of Pune.
The Catholic Diocese of Nashik consist of the civil revenue
districts of Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar and Ahmednagar.
All these five districts are in Maharashtra.
The majority of the Catholic Population of this diocese comprises
of landless labourers marginal farmers, factory workers and
those in various government services.
By the Decree "Dilecto Filio" dated June 9,1987, His
Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Rt. Rev. Thomas Bhalerao,
S.J. the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nashik. He
was consecrated Bishop by His Eminence, Simon Cardinal, Pimenta
(the then Archbishop) of Bombay on Sunday, August 23, 1987 at
Dynanamata Vidyalaya, Sangamner, Ahmednagar district. He took
as his motto "TOP REACH THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR"
(Isaiah, ch. 61:1; Mathew, ch. 28:19; Acts, ch. 10:42.
The erection of the Catholic Diocese of Nashik with a son of
the soil as it's first bishop is undoubtedly a landmark in the
history of the Church in Maharashtra.
Address:
Diocesan Administrator
Bishop's House
Jail Road
Nashik Road - 422 101
Maharashtra.
Tel: (0253) 24 62 528, 24 60 972
Fax: (0253) 24 51 550
E-mail: nsscdn@bom6.vsnl.net.in
Area: 57,532 sq.kms.
Total population: 1,35,00,000
Catholics: 78,000
Languages spoken: Marathi, Hindi, Konkani, English, Tamil
and Malayalam.
Revenue districts: Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar and
Nashik.
Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 27
Religious Priests: 79
Religious Brothers: 16
Religious Women: 266
No. of Parishes: 29
Houses of Women Religious: 42
Houses of Men Religious: 31
Formation Houses
Major Seminary: 01
Others: 04
No. of Educational Institutions
Technical Institutions: 03
Collegiates (P.U.C.): 01
Students: 395
High Schools (10th std.): 23
Students: 13,483
Primary Schools: 29
Students: 23,541
Hospitals: 04
Dispensaries: 07
Other Institutions: 45
Beneficiaries (Annual): 2,872
