Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad in Pakistan

Diocese of Hyderabad
Dioecesis Hyderabadensis
حیدرآباد کے کیتھولک چرچ

The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, Hyderabad
Location
Country Pakistan
Ecclesiastical province Karachi
Metropolitan Karachi
Statistics
Area 137,386 km2 (53,045 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		 (as of 2006)
22,452,472
48,895 (0.2%)
Information
Rite Latin Rite
Established 28 April 1958
Cathedral St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Rev. Fr. Samson Shukardin, O.F.M., V.G. (Bishop-elect)[1]
Metropolitan Archbishop Joseph Coutts

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad (Lat: Dioecesis Hyderabadensis in Pakistan) is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan.

History

The Diocese of Hyderabad was created by the Bulla "Eius in Terris", dated April 28, 1958, and officially erected on 23rd August 1958, the diocese was split off from the Archdiocese of Karachi.

The diocese comprises parts of the Hyderabad, Larkana and Sukkur Divisions. In the Hyderabad Division: the Districts of Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Tharparkar, Thatta, Umerkot and Sujawal. In the Larkana Division: the Districts of Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot and Shikarpur. In the Sukkur Division: the Districts of Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Shaheed Benazir Abad (formely Nawabshah) and Naushahro Feroze. The main church is St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Hyderabad.

In 2001, territory was lost along with additional territory in the Archdiocese of Karachi to form the Apostolic Prefecture of Quetta. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Karachi.

On September 16, 1988, Fr. Joseph Coutts of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore was ordained as Coadjutor Bishop of Hyderabad.[2]

The Medical Mission Sisters in Hyderabad diocese, based at St. Teresa's Hospital in Mirpur Khas, have been training midwives since 1971 and implement public health programs in poor villages whose people cannot come to the hospital.[3]

In 1993 the Joty Educational and Cultural Centre for education and intereligious dialogue was established, which aims to build good relations with Muslims, marginalise all forms of integralism and violence and promote social harmony. It was initially opened in a small apartment in Hyderabad. In 2005 it has its own building with classrooms, a hall for prayer and meditation and a refectory. The Centre was directed by Fr. Anjou Soares until 2011. The present director of the centre is Fr. Abid Habib, OFM Cap. [4]

Bishop Max John Rodrigues led the Diocese of Hyderabad from his appointment by Pope Saint John Paul II on December 3, 1999, until his resignation was accepted by Pope Francis on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. Pope Francis appointed as Bishop-elect the Rev. Fr. Samson Shukardin, O.F.M., V.G., a Franciscan who until then had been serving as Vicar General of the Diocese. He will be ordained and installed as Bishop of Hyderabad in the near future.

The Golden Jubilee of the diocese was celebrated on August 23, 2007. It now has 15 priests serving an estimated 50,000 Catholics. The diocese has 45 educational institutes. Father John Murad was the Vicar General of the diocese in 2007. He was replaced by Bishop-elect Shukardin, O.F.M., V.G., who also served as the parish priest of St. Elizabeth Parish in Latifabad, Hyderabad. [5]

The Diocese also owns St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Hyderabad, established in 1958 as a non-profit institution. The hospital has a 75 bed capacity. It provides medical care in Hyderabad and nearby Kotri, but also to the tribal people of interior Sindh especially from Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Tando Adam, Badin, Matli and Nagar Parkar, irrespective of caste or creed.[6] [7]

The Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad has worked with great love and fervor for the freedom, upliftment and progress of the various depressed and marginalized tribal peoples in sindh. It has the biggest tribal apostolate in the Country.[8]

The Diocese covers sixteen parishes and 8 of which cater for the tribal communities. There are now 11 diocesan priests in the diocese. The Spiritans (CSSp), Franciscan Friars Minor (OFM), Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) and Society of St. Columban (SSC) are also tirelessly serving in the diocese.

Ordinaries

Schools

The diocese works hard for the uplift of the marginalised through education. The Catholic Board of Education, Hyderabad (CBE HYD) regulates the 17 primary schools, 4 elementary schools and 9 high schools through out the diocese. The diocese also runs 6 hostels and boarding schools particularly catering for the education of the tribal children.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Vatican Press 16 December 2014
  2. ↑ "UCANews.com October 5, 1988".
  3. ↑ "UCANews.com November 6, 2000".
  4. ↑ "Hyderabad Catholic Culture Centre builds interreligious dialogue".
  5. ↑ "Diocese Reflects On Challenges As It Celebrates Golden Jubilee".
  6. ↑ "St Columban's Mission Society 2009".
  7. ↑ "UCANews.com December 18, 1998".
  8. ↑ The Catholic Church in Pakistan, Directory 2010, page 53
  9. ↑ "Catholic Hierarchy".
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