Ahmedabad (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 5 May 1949
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Gandhinagar
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 14,791 (5,713 Square Miles)
Description: In the state of Gujarat: the districts of Ahmedabad, and Kheda
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Dr. Tankaria Rd., Mirzapur, Ahmadabad-380001, Gujarat, India
Telephone: (079) 2562.417
Fax: 2563.1942

Historical Details

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Ahmedabad
- Latin Name: Ahmedabadensis
- Erected: 1934
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joaquín Vilallonga y Bernia, S.J. † ( 1934 Appointed - 1949 Resigned)
Edwin Pinto, S.J. † (5 May 1949 Appointed - 4 Aug 1973 Resigned)
Charles Gomes, S.J. † (1 Jul 1974 Appointed - 21 May 1990 Retired)
Stanislaus Fernandes, S.J. (21 May 1990 Appointed - 11 Nov 2002 Appointed, Archbishop of Gandhinagar)
Thomas Ignatius Macwan (11 Nov 2002 Appointed - 12 Jun 2015 Appointed, Archbishop of Gandhinagar)
Athanasius Rethna Swamy Swamiadian (29 Jan 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Ahmedabad
1934	Erected	Archdiocese of Bombay (Northern and central part of Quierat, from the river Mahi to the region of Sind, the whole peninsula of Kathiavar and the island of Gutch)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Ahmedabad (erected)
Diocese of Ahmedabad
5 May 1949	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Ahmedabad	Diocese of Ahmedabad
26 February 1977	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ahmedabad (Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kutch (Bhuj), Rajkot, and Surendranagar)	Diocese of Rajkot (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
11 November 2002	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ahmedabad (Gandhinagar, Mehasana, Patan, Banaskantha, and Sabarkantha)	Archdiocese of Gandhinagar (erected)
11 November 2002	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Ahmedabad (from Bombay)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Ahmedabad

1950 29,764 9,654,212 .3% 38 38 783 51 40 12 ap1951

1959 37,927 11,172,070 .3% 59 59 642 80 137 19 ap1960

1970 46,541 14,221,918 .3% 8 76 84 554 133 240 16 ap1971

1980 57,000 11,600,000 .5% 13 79 92 619 160 217 24 ap1981

1990 70,042 15,440,907 .5% 34 105 139 503 188 364 39 ap1991

1999 76,000 15,563,175 .5% 72 109 181 419 154 420 49 ap2000

2000 76,000 15,600,000 .5% 76 111 187 406 151 416 49 ap2001

2001 76,000 15,600,000 .5% 78 111 189 402 151 416 49 ap2002

2002 62,000 8,292,709 .7% 51 80 131 473 134 324 39 ap2003

2003 64,815 9,750,454 .7% 65 80 145 447 122 342 37 ap2004

2004 64,925 9,750,454 .7% 64 80 144 450 117 343 38 ap2005

2006 66,038 9,902,358 .7% 68 79 147 449 119 333 39 ap2007

2012 70,038 10,143,092 .7% 77 90 167 419 131 374 42 ap2013

2015 70,269 10,143,092 .7% 74 90 164 428 130 325 45 ap2016

2018 70,934 10,156,918 .7% 76 78 154 460 118 369 45 ap2019

2020 72,500 10,382,500 .7% 82 75 157 461 119 367 45 ap2021

2022 71,000 10,157,000 .7% 80 72 152 467 119 364 45 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Ahmedabad
1950	29,764	9,654,212	.3%		38	38	783	51	40	12	ap1951
1959	37,927	11,172,070	.3%		59	59	642	80	137	19	ap1960
1970	46,541	14,221,918	.3%	8	76	84	554	133	240	16	ap1971
1980	57,000	11,600,000	.5%	13	79	92	619	160	217	24	ap1981
1990	70,042	15,440,907	.5%	34	105	139	503	188	364	39	ap1991
1999	76,000	15,563,175	.5%	72	109	181	419	154	420	49	ap2000
2000	76,000	15,600,000	.5%	76	111	187	406	151	416	49	ap2001
2001	76,000	15,600,000	.5%	78	111	189	402	151	416	49	ap2002
2002	62,000	8,292,709	.7%	51	80	131	473	134	324	39	ap2003
2003	64,815	9,750,454	.7%	65	80	145	447	122	342	37	ap2004
2004	64,925	9,750,454	.7%	64	80	144	450	117	343	38	ap2005
2006	66,038	9,902,358	.7%	68	79	147	449	119	333	39	ap2007
2012	70,038	10,143,092	.7%	77	90	167	419	131	374	42	ap2013
2015	70,269	10,143,092	.7%	74	90	164	428	130	325	45	ap2016
2018	70,934	10,156,918	.7%	76	78	154	460	118	369	45	ap2019
2020	72,500	10,382,500	.7%	82	75	157	461	119	367	45	ap2021
2022	71,000	10,157,000	.7%	80	72	152	467	119	364	45	ap2023