Diocese of Kurnool

A BRIEF HISTORY OF KURNOOL DIOCESE

Forest Area: About 7,86,412 acres (18% of the total area) mainly in Kurnool district.

The main forests are: Nallamalla and Erramalla in Kurnool District.

Rainfall: Average rainfall per annum is 575 to 600 mm.

Main Rivers: Thungabhadra and its tributary Hundri, Krishna and Kunderu in Kurnool District. Pennar, chitravanthi and vedanthi (Hagari) in Anantapur District.

Literacy Rate: About 36%

Present Religious Data: Catholics: 71,105
Christians: 3,05,000
Non-Christians: 78,66,001

Beginning and Growth of Christianity:

Jesuits: The first missionaries in this area were the Jesuits from Pondicherry in 1700. When the Karnatic Mission was founded by the French Jesuits, there were a large number of Catholics in the Telugu Region. Geographically Karnatic Mission consisted of the Region from the North Arcot districts in the south to Chilkballpur in the west and from river Krishna in the north to Bay of Bengal in the East. Mr. Madoot and Fr. Lenege are the founders this Karnaic Mission. Later in 1702 Fr. Dela Fontaine and in 1720 John Carmette joined the team and worked in this mission.

Paris Foreign Missionary Society: After the withdrawal of Jesuits in 1773, the people were left without priests for 50 years until the priests of the Paris Foreign Missionary Society stepped into field. Though few in number, these gallant missionaries worked hard and kept the faith of the people alive. Great progress was made especially during the time of Bishop Clement Bonnard (Dayananda Swamy) so that the northern area of the Karnatic Mission was erected into a vicariate apostolic. Around this time the people in Onteddupalle received Christian Faith.

In 1843 the Telugu Districts were attached to the Vicariate of Madras which was first manned by the secular Irish Missionaries from Maynooth and All Hallows. To aid these Missionaries, Priests of St. Joseph’s Society, Mil Hill, London came in 1875 and began working among the Telugus, till quite recently (1985) in some parts of Kurnool Diocese. The Franciscan Fathers also laboured in the western parts of the diocese for some time specially in the present Adoni, Yemmiganur and Ramadurgam Parishes.

Mill Hill Missionaries: The Missionary zeal and works of the Mill Hill Missionaries for more than 100 years among the Telugu Christians is praise worthy. As a result of their labour in 1928 the diocese of Nellore was erected comprising the civil districts of Nellore, Guntur, Kurnool, Anantapur, Cuddapah and Chittoor with Most Rev. William Bouter MHM as its first Bishop. During his time great progress was made in the local church which is seen in the erection of new dioceses, bifurcated from Nellore Diocese. In 1940 the diocese of Guntur was erected and was entrusted to the indigenous diocesan Clergy and Bishop Most Rev. Thomas Pothakamuri as its first Bishop who was succeeded by Most Rev. Ignatius Mummadi. In 1967 the diocese of Kurnool and Anantapur with Most Rev. Joseph Rajappa as its Bishop. Later in 1976 the diocese of Cuddapah was erected, comprising the two civil districts of Cuddapah and Chittor. All these 4 dioceses - Nellore, Guntur, Kurnool and Cuddapah - are the fruits of the dedicated service and labour of the great Mill Hill Missionaries. Of course the hard work, sacrifice and dedicated pastoral ministry of the diocesan indigenous clergy and men and women religious especially the JMJ Society are to be re-called.

Formation the diocese: The diocese of Kurnool with the two civil districts of Kurnool and Anantapur was erected on 12th June 1967 with Bishop Joseph Rajappa as its first Bishop.

1. Most Rev. Joseph Rajappa (1967 -1988)

2. Most Rev. Mathew Cherian Kunnel PIME (1988 - 1991)

3. Most Rev. Gorantla Johannes DD (1994-), the present Bisbhop

Most Rev. Gorantla Johannes DD
Bishop's House
Our Lady of Lourd's Cathedral
Bishop's House Compound,
B’Camp, Kurnool 518 002, AP
T: (08518)-271298

Bishop Gorantla Johannes hails from Munuganapalle of Nandigama Parish of Vijayawada Diocese. He was born on 10th April, 1954 in a marginal agricultural family to Mr and Mrs. Augustine and Anthonamma, a decent, devout and simple couple. He inherited from his parents a strong faith, deep self-respect and a sense of purpose.

Ordained a priest on 19th of March, 1977 for the diocese of Vijayawada, he served the diocese in various capacities as Parish Priest, Dy. Manager of Schools, Director of Pastoral Centre etc. He obtained a Doctorate in Systematic Theology at Rome and taught in St. John’s Regional Seminary for 4 years. When the search for shepherd for Kurnool Diocese was on, the choice of the spirit fell on him and he dared to accept it.

In the 12 years of his Episcopate he proved himself to be an able and far sighted administrator, a good pastor and an ardent learner. All his activities point to a vision of the church in Kurnool that he has envisaged. He has set some priorities and has started to work on them. His priorities in the order of importance are: Spiritual renewal of the people, basic and higher education of the rural poor children and an attitudinal change in the social life of the people, allied with upliftment of the poor, especially women.

Our Lady of Lourd's Cathedral

Catholic Population in the diocese: 71,105
Number of Priests: 87 a) Diocesan: 47 b) Religious: 40
Number of Religious Brothers: 13 & Sisters: 313
Number of Catechists: 234
Number of Parishes: 49

EDUCATIONAL
Elementary Schools: 39;
Upper Primary Schools: 5;
High Schools: 34
Colleges: 5;
Technical Schools: 3;
Training Schools: 14

CHARITABLE:
Hostels: 6
Boarding Homes: 40
Home for the disabled: 6

HEALTH SERVICES:
Hospitals & Dispensaries: 11;
HIV/Aids Centres: 2;
Leprosy Centres: 2

Social Service centers:

• KDSSS: Kurnool Diocesan Social Service Centre, Venkayapalle – 518 453 Kurnool Dt. A.P., T: (08518)-270691
• DSS: Maria Nilayam Social Service Centre, Gargeyapuram – 518 452, Kurnool Dt. A.P., T: (08518)-238148
• SSA: St. Anne’s Social Welfare Society, Near S.P.Y. Reddy Farm, Gopavaram P.O., 518 583 Mahanandi Kurnool Dt. A.P., T: (08514)-232710
• SJ: S.J. Social Service Centre, Madakkasira – 515 203 Anantapur Dt. A.P., T: (08556)-220288
• VC: De Paul Social Service Centre, Karivena, Atmakur – 518 422 Kurnool Dt. A.P., T: (08517)-283135

1. Our Lady of Health Shrine, Guntakal: The church at Guntakal was established in 1880. The Mill Hill Fathers worked in this Parish till 1971. The original church was built by Fr. A. Karoot. Fr. G. Goes added two wings to the church. Fr. Louis Rego extended the church in length and width in 1980 and built a Shrine in honor of Our Lady of Good Health. Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Rajappa, the then Bishop of Kurnool, declared the Shrine as a Pilgrim Centre. The major festivals of this parish is Nativity of Our Lady on 8th September. The popular belief in the reported vision of Our Lady of Lourdes to 2 Hindu School Children has spread far and wide and since then thousands of devotees are visiting the Shrine. A magnificent Shrine of Our Lady of Health was blessed and opened by His Excellency on September 8, 2002.

2. St. Antony’s Shrine at Adoni: The presence of Christianity in Adoni is there right from 1750. Portuguese Priests used to look after it. It was belonging to the diocese of Bellary until the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The famous St. Antony Boarding was there even before the erection of Kurnool Diocese. There is Shrine of St. Antony in the boarding premises. There is special devotion to St. Antony’s here. Every first Tuesday of the month large number of catholics gather for the Holy Mass, celebrated in front of the statue. On 13th June of every year, a sea of devotees throng for the blessings and prayers of St. Antony.

3. St. Antony’s Shrine, Joharapuram: Joharapuram was the substation of St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral, Kurnool-1. In the year 2000, it was bifurcated from St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral, Kurnool-1 and erected as Parish. St. Antony’s Shrine at Joharapuram is one of the important Shrines in the diocese. Every year on 13th June, the feast of St. Antony is celebrated very grandly. The devotion to St. Antony is steadily growing year by year. From 17th February 2005, thousands of people of all religions, from far and near are thronging to the parish church of Joharapuram everyday, to have a Darshan and Blessing of St. Antony as they find a lot of change in the eyes of the statue of St. Antony.

4. St. Antony’s Shrine, Chapirevula: Chapirevula was a substation of Nandyal Parish. On 2nd June 1997 it was erected into a new parish and was entrusted to the Capuchin Fathers and Fr. Adolph Kannadipara was appointed as the first parish priest. This station was started some 200 years ago by a Catholic by name Mariadas Kottala, a Kilometer away from the present church. The chapel and the house were destroyed in the cyclone of 1951, only statue of St. Antony was saved. It was under the parish of Polur in the beginning and later on it came under Peddakottala. Fr. Kasken MHM, Priest of Peddakottala Parish bought land in Chapirevula for the church and for the catholic families and built the present church in 1955. Fr. Philip extended it to the present size. Later on it came under Nandyal Parish. The new Parish Priest of Chapirevula Fr. Adolph Kannadipara, OFM. Cap. Has built the new parish church and the parish house. The sisters of Servants of Mary have constructed their convent and school at Chapirevula. Devotees of St. Antony come to the chapel on the first Tuesday of every month. Every year the feast of St. Antony is celebrated on June 13 and many devotees from far and near visit the shrine.

5. Vailankannimatha Shrine, Nandikotkur: Nandikotkur was originally an outstation of Kurnool Parish and was made a parish in 1967. Fr. Cheriyan was the first Parish Preist. The construction of present church was started by Rev. Fr. Joseph Perincheril. Fr. R. Shoury completed it and during Fr. K. Joji’s time (1994), this was raised to a Shrine and was blessed by His Lordship Most Rev. G. Johannes along with 2 other Bishops. Our Bishop declared it as the Second Shrine of Our Lady in the Diocese.

6. Srisailamatha Shrine, Srisailam: Srisailam was earlier under Donakonda Parish. There were 3 Catholic families who were working as stone cutters. They were originally from Rajamupalli which belonged to Donakonda at that time. The Parish Priest of Donakonda used to go there to celebrate the mass twice or thrice a year. On August 15, 1977 the new Srisailamatha Mission was opened by Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Rajappa. The first Parish Priest was Fr. John Xavier. Fr. Louis Rego built the first presbytery there. Fr. Francis D’Cruz built the Srisailamatha and briefly in 1979. The present presbytery was built by Fr. Joseph Palladan and completed by Fr. Joseph Vetticad. The present church of Srisailamatha was built by Fr. G. Shoureddy in 2000.

7. St. Mary’s Shrine, Premagiri: In 1972, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Rajappa erected a wooden Cross-on the hill of Military Colony. From that time, there is way of the Cross on Friday. Every Good Friday, good number of the faithful from various parts of the diocese participate in the Way of the Cross. This Premagiri Parish was bifurcated from Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral Parish on March 12, 1988 and was entrusted to the Vincentian Congregation. Fr. Francis Naduviladathu VC was appointed as its first Parish Priest. The new church was blessed and opened by all the Bishops of Andhra Pradesh on 30-08-2000.

8. Yathrikulamatha Shrine: A seven storied Marian Shrine constructed in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was blessed and opened by Bishop Gorantla Johannes on 26th January 2004. The Shrine is located in the premises of KDSSS by the road side. It is hoped and prayed that this will add to the growth of devotion to Our Lady and bring many Christians and non-Christians closer to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

9. Mariagiri Shrine, Krishnapuram: Krishnapuram, a remote village in the district of Anantapur, though it looks ordinary in every sense of the word, has a unique place in the History of the Andhra Catholic Church as well as in the history of the Jesuits in the pre-suppression era. As the Jesuit Missionaries set foot in Andhra in the early 18th Century at Krishnapuram, built a house and big church there, and reaped a great harvest for the Lord by receiving a good number of people of all castes into the Kingdom of God, thus establishing a flourishing church in Andhra, Krishnapuram is called the cradle of the Andhra Church. Thanks to the interring of the mortal remains of Sanjivanadha Swamy, Shourinadha Swamy and Divyanadha Swamy, the land of Krishnapuram became more holy and sacred, not only for the Catholics but for all the others too. Near to Krishnapuram there is a hill on which the statue of Our Lady was erected and it is called Mariagiri Shrine. The devotion to Mother Mary is increasing day by day. Many people daily pay a visit to the Shrine and the tombs.