Diocese of Shimoga

Dioecesis Shimogaensis

Bishop(s)

Francis Serrao, S.J., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 November 1988
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bangalore
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 22,893 (8,842 Square Miles)
Description: Shimoga,Chitradurga, and Davangere
Official Web Site: https://www.shimogadiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Malligenahalli, Sagar Road, Shimoga-577205, Karnataka, India
Telephone: 998.007.2698

Past and Present Ordinaries

Ignatius Paul Pinto † (14 Nov 1988 Appointed - 10 Sep 1998 Appointed, Archbishop of Bangalore)
Gerald Isaac Lobo (3 Dec 1999 Appointed - 16 Jul 2012 Appointed, Bishop of Udupi)
Francis Serrao, S.J. (19 Mar 2014 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 November 1988	Erected	Archdiocese of Bangalore (Chitradurga) Diocese of Chikmagalur (Shimoga)	Diocese of Shimoga (erected)

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

1990 22,260 3,433,115 .6% 21 1 22 1,011 1 110 16 ap1991

1998 25,102 4,222,779 .6% 28 9 37 678 10 157 24 ap2001

2001 24,301 4,499,804 .5% 30 10 40 607 10 155 22 ap2002

2002 24,508 4,510,024 .5% 36 10 46 532 10 166 20 ap2003

2003 24,725 4,639,515 .5% 43 18 61 405 18 170 24 ap2004

2004 20,506 7,346,000 .3% 42 17 59 347 17 184 24 ap2005

2010 21,006 7,822,000 .3% 43 27 70 300 31 232 21 ap2011

2014 19,447 5,432,000 .4% 44 34 78 249 37 223 22 ap2015

2017 19,014 5,645,380 .3% 46 35 81 234 35 222 22 ap2018

2020 18,498 5,737,600 .3% 43 41 84 220 41 227 21 ap2021

2022 18,100 5,549,000 .3% 47 43 90 201 43 222 21 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1990	22,260	3,433,115	.6%	21	1	22	1,011	1	110	16	ap1991
1998	25,102	4,222,779	.6%	28	9	37	678	10	157	24	ap2001
2001	24,301	4,499,804	.5%	30	10	40	607	10	155	22	ap2002
2002	24,508	4,510,024	.5%	36	10	46	532	10	166	20	ap2003
2003	24,725	4,639,515	.5%	43	18	61	405	18	170	24	ap2004
2004	20,506	7,346,000	.3%	42	17	59	347	17	184	24	ap2005
2010	21,006	7,822,000	.3%	43	27	70	300	31	232	21	ap2011
2014	19,447	5,432,000	.4%	44	34	78	249	37	223	22	ap2015
2017	19,014	5,645,380	.3%	46	35	81	234	35	222	22	ap2018
2020	18,498	5,737,600	.3%	43	41	84	220	41	227	21	ap2021
2022	18,100	5,549,000	.3%	47	43	90	201	43	222	21	ap2023