Pope appoints first bishop of Rayagada Catholic diocese

A new Catholic diocese of Rayagada has been created in Odisha, bifurcating the diocese of Berhampur and Father Aplinar Senapati was appointed as its first bishop today.

Senapati, who hails from Ganjam district of Odisha, is the parish priest at Derapather in Nuagaon, Assam, according to a press release.

The new diocese of Rayagada will comprise the districts of Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada, it said.

It would have 30 diocesan and 12 religious priests, 104 nuns, 270 catechists, 23 parishes, 377 mission stations, 8 men congregations and 25 women congregations, the release added.