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.
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
