About

OUR PATRON

ST. JOSEPH

HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE

     The civil district of North Kanara (Uttara Kannada) was a part of the Archdiocese of Goa till September 19, 1953 on which day the new Diocese of Belgaum was erected.  Two civil districts,  Belgaum and North Kanara, were separated from the Archdiocese of Goa and two other civil districts, Dharwad and Bijapur, were taken from the Diocese of Poona to form the Diocese of Belgaum.

     The Diocese of Karwar, comprising the whole civil  district of Uttara Kannada, was carved out from the Diocese of Belgaum and erected as the Diocese of Karwar by the Decree “Christi Missum” of Pope Paul VI dated January 24, 1976.  The Most Rev. Dr. William Leonard D’Mello was appointed the first Bishop of Karwar by the Apostolic Bull dated January 24, 1976.  He was ordained and installed as the first Bishop of Karwar on April 29, 1977.

     After zealously shepherding the new diocese for nearly 30 years, Bishop William D’Mello resigned on attaining superannuation.  By the Apostolic Bull dated February 24, 2007, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Derek Fernandes of the Clergy of Belgaum diocese as the new Bishop of Karwar.  Bishop Derek Fernandes was ordained and installed as the Bishop of Karwar on April 20, 2007.  

            Area                 :  10,291 Sq. Km

            Population        :  13,53,000

            Catholics          :  44,220

            Languages        :  Konkani, Kannada, Marathi

                                          Our Beloved Bishop

Bp. DEREK FERNANDES
Born: May. 14, 1954
Priestly Ordn: May 05, 1979
Appointed Bishop of Karwar: Feb. 24. 2007
Episcopal consecration: Apr. 20, 2007

No. of Educational Institutions
Jr. College: 02
High Schools (10th std.): 17 
Primary Schools: 19
Hospitals & Dispensaries: 16

Address:
Bishop's Office
Puneeth Sadan, Shirwad
Karwar - 581 306
Uttara Kannada (Karnataka).

Tel: (08382) 28 23 64 (O), 28 23 63 (P)
Fax: (08382) 28 24 52
Mobile: 94488 06835
E-mail: bishopkwr@sancharnet.in

Statistics:
Diocesan Clergy: 114
Religious Priests: 17
No. of Parishes: 66
Houses of Women Religious: 47
Houses of Men Religious: 08