| |
History
The diocese of Srikakulam was erected in 1993 carving it from
the civil district of Srikakulam and the Taluks of Kurupam,
parvathipuram, Cheepurupalli and Gummalakshmipuram of Vizianagaram
District. The geographical area of the diocese is 8,542 square
kilometers. It was bifurcated from the erstwhile diocese of
Visakhapatnam and erected a separate diocese on the August 4,
1993, with Most Rev. A. Innayya as the first bishop of Srikakulam.
The diocese was started with 35,000 Catholics, 14 parishes,
and few resources for caring to the spiritual, pastoral, social,
economical and educational development of the vast population
of the area. With the strenuous efforts and zeal of Bishop,
priests and religious the task of building up of the Church
in Srikakulam diocese has been speeded up still more and today
it has more than 50,000 Catholics, 22 parishes, 32 priests,
75 sisters and 154 catechists.
Socio-economic conditions of the
people
The
geographical area of the diocese could broadly be divided into
two regions like the coastal belt and upland region. The people
living in these regions are predominantly the agricultural labourers
as agriculture is the main occupation. The people living in the
plain and upland region do have the advantage occupations like
working in the forest, collecting the products from the forest
like gum, fire wood, timber, honey, tamarind etc. and vending
the same to the people of the plain areas either in exchange of
the other commodities or for cash.
The Srikakulam district is the second largest one in the state
of Andhra Pradesh having the highest concentration of the Scheduled
Tribes living across the Western Ghats, either at the foot or
the top hills. The tribes like Savaras, Jatapus, Gadabas and Kons
are widely seen in this forest area. They make their lives mostly
depending upon the forest while some cultivation their pretty
extent of lands.
The people living in plain areas of Srikakulam and parts of Viziangaram
are the agricultural labourers. In almost all the villages majority
of the population are scheduled castes. There are also some people
who do possess some extent of lands ranging from 0.50 to 2.50
acres. Since the income derived form these lands is not adequate
to supplement the maintenance of their families, they are forced
to work in the fields of the rich of the area as agricultural
labourers. In any case the daily income of a poor family does
not exceed Rs. 35 to 40/-. In most of the family one can see that
the children also go for work just to supplement the income of
their parents. Hence the literacy percentage in the diocese is
very low.
The diocese with its limited resources trying to raise this literacy
percentage among the Catholics with whom the priests and nuns
have free access. Even for the pastoral activities in the parish
level, the people are not in position to contribute much to the
church; just because of their poverty. Seeing their condition
the Church also does never force the people to pay for the celebrations
or functions. At this juncture the diocese with its limited available
resources is managing most of the functions or celebrations in
the parish/deanery/diocesan level.
.jpg)
Bp ADAGATLA CHINNA INNAYYA
Born: May 02, 1937
Priestly Ordn: Jan. 04, 1965
Episcopal Ordn: Jun. 29, 1989
Address:
Bishop's House
Bakagathope
Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh - 532 001.
Tel: (08942) 22 23 265 (O), 22 27 819 (P)
Fax: (08942) 22 22 940
E-mail: skldiocese@yahoo.com
Area: 8,452 sq.kms.
Total population: 2,71,253
Catholics: 50,000
Languages spoken: Telugu, Oriya and English
Revenue districts: Srikakulam and Revenue mandals of Kurupam,
Gummalakshmipuramm, Paravathipuram and
Cheepurapalli of Viziangaram.
Recapitulation of Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 18
Religious Priests: 14
Religious Brothers: 04
Religious Women: 75
No. of Parishes: 22
Houses of Women Religious: 17
Houses of Men Religious: 08
Religious Formation Houses
Minor Seminary: 01
No. of Educational Institutions
Technical Institutions: 01
High Schools (10th std.): 04
Primary Schools: 14
Hospitals: 02
Dispensaries: 04
|
|
