The Diocese of Gulbarga

24TH June 2005, on the feast of St. John the Baptist, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, announced the creation of the Diocese of Gulbarga comprising of the three Districts of North Karnataka (Bidar, Gulbarga and Bijapur).

His Holiness also announced Rev. Fr. Robert Michael Miranda, the Episcopal vicar of Bidar Mission of Mangalore Diocese, a pioneer missionary and a worthy Pastor to be the First Bishop of the Diocese of Gulbarga.

The Diocese of Gulbarga is carved out of the three Dioceses: Hyderabad, Belgaum, and Bellary.

Thousands of faithful and hundreds of Priests and Religious along with nine Bishops graced the Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda on Thursday, 18th August 2005 at 9.30 a.m, in St. Joseph's Convent School auditorium, Gulbarga. The Diocese of Gulbarga was thus formally inaugurated.

His Grace Archbishop Most Rev. Pedro Lopez Quintana (Apostolic Nuncio to India), assisted by His Grace Most Rev. Bernard Moras (Archbishop of Bangalore), and His Excellency Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D'Souza (Bishop of Mangalore) conferred the Episcopal Ordination.