Historical Background of the Bangalore Archdiocese
The Archdiocese of Bangalore was formerly part of the Mysore Mission, erected into
a Vicariate in 1850 after separation from the Pondicherry (in south India) in 1845.
The Archdiocese of Bangalore was formerly part of the Mysore Mission, erected into
a Vicariate in 1850 after separation from the Pondicherry (in south India) in 1845. In 1886
when the Hierarchy in India was established by the papal Bull “Humanae Salutis Auctor”,
Mysore became a Diocese with Bangalore as headquarters. The Diocese was bifurcated
and thus the Diocese of Bangalore as such was erected on 13th Febraury 1940. It
became an Archdiocese on 19th September 1953.
Archdiocesan Cathedral, Bangalore
On 14th November 1988 the Diocese of Shimoga was created to which Bangalore
Archdiocese ceded the civil district of Chitradurga. Thus the actual Bangalore Archdiocese
comprises only three civil districts of Bangalore, Kolar and Tumkur. These cover an area
of 27,013.85 sq kms with a total population of ,66,01,100 as per census of 1997, of which
4,09,247 are Christians and of which 3,32,120 are catholics (1999).
The Bangalore Archdiocese consists of 117 parishes, 96 diocesan priests (religious priests
are in some parishes), 24 high schools, 1 Pre-university college, 1 orphanage, Marriage
Tribunal, Youth Centre and Young Students Movement, Multi-purpose Social Service
Society, Catechetics Centre, Communication Centre and many more institutions belong
to the Archdiocese of Bangalore.
Click here to view Archdiocese Statistics
WHO IS A DIOCESAN PRIEST?
Do you want to build up Families, Married couples, Youth, Children?
Do you want to Preach Gods’ Word? Do you want to build up the Local Church?
If YES, then become a DIOCESAN PRIEST. .
A Diocesan Priest normally functions within a limited geographically territory under the
ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Bishop. The territory is called Archdiocese
or Diocese.
A diocesan priest has to assume many roles, he must be a:
- Faith-Formator: He has to build up the Faith life of Families in the diocese.
- Counsellor: He must be a counsellor to young people preparing for
marriage, married couples having marital problems, children with difficulties, youth and the aged.
- Community Builder: He must build up the faith life of the parish community by
bringing families together in unity and harmony.
- Spiritual Director: He must co-ordinate and organize pious associations in the parish
and render spiritual direction to its members.
- Preacher: He must proclaim the word of God through effective homilies/sermons.
- Youth-Mentor: He must nurture the spiritual life of the Youth in the parish.
- Provider: He must strive towards providing the temporal needs especially to the poor people in the
parish through mutual-support programmes.
- Teacher: He must be equipped to teach and train young students
in their academics through the diocesan educational institutions.
WHO CAN JOIN?
Those who have passed 10th standard have to apply to the Archbishop with the
recommendation of the Parish Priest (Applications are accepted in May every year). The
Archbishop calls candidates for an interview and they are then screened by a panel of
Priests. Those selected are sent to Bhakti Bhavan (The Bangalore Archdiocesan Minor Seminary).
The Archbishop also considers those who have finished higher studies.
TRAINING PROGRAMME
At the Minor Seminary: Three years of Spiritual Formation, Community Life, Basic
English, Latin and other personality development courses including PUC (Pre-University)
studies.
Degree Studies : Candidates return home to complete their Degree studies
but remain in touch with the Seminary through monthly recollections and various contact
programmes.
Major Seminary : After Graduation, the Archbishop scrutinizes candidates and admits
them the Major Seminary where the candidate receives spiritual formation and studies 2
years of Philosophy and 4 years of Theology.
Regency : After 2 years of Philosophy, the seminarian is posted to do pastoral work
under the guidance of a diocesan priest. This is called the Regency period.
Diaconate : In the 4th year of theology, the archbishop ordains the seminarian
to the ministry of DIACONATE and after about three months of Diaconate ministry, the deacon
is ordained as A DIOCESAN PRIEST.
For more details, Contact us
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