Nagpur, Diocese of

NAGPUR, DIOCESE of. — In 1816 numerous Goan priests visited the civil district of Aurangabad and, in 1820, that of N. In 1839, moreover, Irish priests, subject to the apostolic vicariate of Madras, began to reside as chaplains at the military stations of Kamptee and Jaina.

They were later succeeded by several missionaries of Annecy, coming from the apostolic vicariate of Vizagapatam, which was elevated to a diocese in 1886. On 11 July 1887 the diocese of N. was detached from the diocese of Vizagapatam; its boundaries were rectified in 1895. Evangelization among the pagans began only in 1897.

The mission is situated in central India and borders the ecclesiastical districts

of Vizagapatam, Hyderabad, Poona, Indore, Jabalpur, Ranchi, Calcutta, and Cuttack. It is entrusted to the missionaries of Annecy and has an area of 91,070 sq. km. and approximately 15 million inhabitants, of whom only 35,000 are Catholics, 25,000 Protestants, 350,000 Muslims, and the remainder Hindus. Ecclesiastically, the diocese is divided into 4 districts or vicariates forane; there are 21 parishes, 1 principal station, 15 secondary stations, 6 churches, and 35 chapels. The clergy consists of 26 Indian secular priests and 25 priests of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis of Annecy, 13 of whom are Indians, together with 6 scholastics and 13 brothers. There is a major seminary and a preparatory school. Approximately 200 sisters and 85 male and 171 female teachers teach in 24 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 7 secondary schools, 3 vocational schools, and 1 normal school. There are 13 dispensaries, 13 orphanages, 3 nurseries, and a leprosarium. The diocese possesses 2 printing presses, from which are issued the Salesian, a monthly magazine, and the Apostolic School Bulletin, an annual publication, each with a circulation of 350 copies. There are numerous sodalities, pious associations, and associations of Catholic Action.