STRUCTURE OF THE DIOCESE
Bishop: Most Rev. Dr. Moses D. Prakasam
Coadjutor Bishop: Most Rev. Dr. Pilli Anthony Das
Residence: 9-718-1A, Bishop’s House, Santhapet, Nellore 524 001
Phone: +91 861 233 1038 - Fax.: +91 861 232 3950
Email.: nlrbhs@yahoo.com
Web.: www.dioceseofnellore.com
Patroness: St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
Area: 30,800 Sq. Kms..
Total Population: 66,81,300
Catholic Population: 84,000
Languages Spoken: Telugu, Tamil & English
Rite: Latin
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE
From Pondicherry, the missionaries of the Society of Jesus started their evangelization in the year 1700. By 1736 many Telugus had joyfully accepted baptism. After the Jesuit’s withdrawal in 1773, people were left without Priests for 50 years until the Priests of the Paris Foreign Missionary Society entered. Though few in number, these gallant missionaries kept the faith alive so that the northern area of the Carnatic Mission was erected into Vicariate Apostolic and entrusted to the secular Irish Missionaries (Maynooth and All Hallows). To aid these missionaries, Priests of St. Joseph's Society Mill Hill, London came in 1875 and began working among the Telugus.
The Diocese of Nellore was bifurcated from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore and was erected by the virtue of the Papal Bull "Ad majus religionis incrementum" dated 3rd July, 1928; however the communication was sent on 15-11-1928 mentioning that the decree of erection will take effect on 26-11-1928, comprising the civil districts of Nellore, Ananthapur, Chittoor, Cuddapah, Kurnool and Guntur. Bishop William Bouter had become the first Bishop of the New Diocese.
In 1940 the civil district of Guntur became a Diocese entrusted to the secular clergy. In August 1959 the taluks of Allur and Adoni, formerly part of the Diocese of Bellary, were added to the Diocese of Nellore. In 1967, the Diocese of Kurnool was formed out of Nellore with the districts of Kurnool and Ananthapur. In 1976 the taluks of Chittoor and Palmaner from the Diocese of Vellore were added to the Diocese of Nellore. In 1977 the Diocese of Cuddapah was carved out of Nellore with the Districts of Cuddapah and Chittoor. At the time, the taluks of Giddalur & Markapur of the Diocese of Kurnool and the taluks of Ongole and Chirala were added to the Diocese of Nellore. Today the Diocese of Nellore consists of the civil districts of Nellore and Prakasam except Addanki taluk. It had been shepherd by Most Rev. Dr. William Bouter, Most Rev. Dr. Thumma Showry and Most Rev. Dr. P. C. Balaswamy till 7th December, 2006. Bishop M. D. Prakasam was appointed as the 4th Bishop of Nellore and was installed on 17th January, 2007.