History

The Diocese of Rajkot lies at the northwesternmost part of India, stretching over the whole peninsula of Saurashtra and Kutch, covering an area of 109,950 sq. kms. It comprises the civil districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot and Surendranagar, together known popularly as Saurashtra, and the district of Kutch in Gujarat State.
 
By the Papal Bull "De Recta Fidelium" of February 25, 1977, Pope Paul VI erected the new Diocese of Rajkot, separating it from the Diocese of Ahmedabad.
 
As the Jesuit Vice - Province of Ahmedabad, to whom the Ahmedabad Diocese had been entrusted from its erection in 1948, was unable to provide the personnel to manage this vast territory, and to meet the increasing demands on all fronts, an invitation was made to the Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) of the Syro - Malabar Rite, to take up work in this Diocese.
 
An agreement was made between the former Bishop Edwin Pinto, sj, of Ahmedabad and the CMI Prior General that certain areas of Ahmedabad Diocese should be handed over to the CMI with full responsibility for their apostolate, with a view to erecting a new Exarchate or Eparchy when the Holy See so decided.
 
Since 1972, the CMI Fathers have been working in these areas, which have since been formed into the separate Diocese of Rajkot.
 
Mar Jonas Thaliath, cmi, was appointed the first Bishop of Rajkot. He was ordained Bishop on May 11, 1977 and was installed on June 19, 1977. Bishop Jonas was called to his eternal reward on November 7, 1981. Fr Victorian Kunneparampil, cmi, shouldered the administration of the Diocese until Mar Gregory Karotemprel, cmi, was ordained the second Bishop of Rajkot on April 24, 1983.
 
This entire mission territory was entrusted to the Sacred Heart Province of the CMI Congregation in 1978 and was called Rajkot Mission. It was raised to the status of a Region in 1981 and was named St. Xavier's Region. In 1985 the civil districts of Amreli and Bhavnagar, and in 1987 the district of Junagadh were entrusted to St. Joseph's Province (Kottayam) of the CMI and was called Chavara Sub-Region. In 1993 St. Xavier's Region was made a Vice-Province. In 1996 Chavara Sub - Region was raised to the status of a Region.

Bp GREGORY KAROTEMPREL
Born: May 06, 1933
Priestly Ordn: May 17, 1963        
Episcopal Ordn: Apr. 24, 1983

Address: 
Bishop's House
P. B. No. 1
Rajkot - 360 005
 Gujarat.
 
Tel: (0281) 25 63 415, 25 63 203 (O),
25 63 889 (P)
Fax: (0281) 25 63 427
E-mail: mailto:bprajkot@wilnetonline.net
 
Area: 109,950 Sq.kms.
Total Population: 15 million
Christians: 20,000
Catholics: 11,000
Languages spoken: Gujarati, Kutchi, Hindi and English.
Revenue Districts: Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Kutch.
 
Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 08
Religious Priests: 97
Religious Women: 350
No. of Parishes: 10
Houses of Women Religious: 70
Houses of Men Religious: 12
 
Formation Houses 
Minor Seminaries: 03
 
No. of Educational institutions: 44
Colleges: 01    
Students: 945
Sr. Secondary Schools (10+2): 14    
Students: 2,000
High Schools (10th std.): 25
Students: 8,000
Primary Schools: 39
Students: 2,000
Hospitals: 05
Dispensaries: 48
Beneficiaries (Annual): 1,78,791
Other Institutions: 90