The Poona Diocese consists of the civil districts of Pune, Satara, Solapur, Sangli & Kolhapur city. n 1850, St. Patrick's Church, the present cathedral, was built.
Poona became a Vicariate Apostolic by dismemberment from Bombay on March 8, 1854, and was turned over to the Jesuits. The Vicar Apostolic of Bombay remained Administrator till the Hierarchy was established in 1886. The Jesuit Bernard Bieder-Linden was appointed its first bishop.
On October 20, 1953, the Catholics of Ratnagiri District and those of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Pune, who formerly belonged to the Archdiocese of Goa, were placed under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Poona. On November 30, 1953, the districts of Dharwar and Bijapur, formerly in the Poona Diocese were attached to the newly constituted Diocese of Belgaum.
On June 9, 1987, the Diocese of Nashik was created, comprising four districts - Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar - of the Poona Diocese. Jesuit Thomas Bhalerao became its first bishop. St.Patrick's Cathedral was rededicated on October 22, 1987. The roof of the old Cathedral collapsed shortly before midnight on July 15, 1984. The outer walls and facade have been retained, and there is a vaulted roof of concrete.
The Eparchy of Kalyan, which is contiguous with the Archdiocese of Bombay and the Dioceses of Poona and Nashik, was created on May 19, 1988. On August 24, 1988, Paul Chittilapilly was ordained Eparch of Kalyan, and the new diocese was formally inaugurated. All Catholics of the Syro-Malabar rite in the diocese came under his jurisdiction.
The First Diocesan Synod was held at Ishvani Kendra, Pune, from 11 to 14 February 2003. 144 delegates from all the 7 districts attended.
History
1854: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Poona from the Apostolic Vicariate of Bombay
September 1, 1886: Promoted as Diocese of Poona
Roman Catholic Churches in Pune
St Patrick's Cathedral
Catholics: 11,850
St. John Paul II Church - Wakad (Wakad Mass Centre)[1]
Catholics: 60 Families
C/o Prerna Bhavan, S. No. 93, Tathwade Village, Near Indira College, Wakad, Pune 411033. Mobile: 99233 17352, 94232 17352
Clergy: Rev. Fr. Simon Almeida (Priest-in-charge)
Deacon Roy Dmonte'
Directions
Church Of Our Lady Of Perpetual Help
Catholics: 1,220
St. Anne's Church
Catholics: 1,220
Solapur Bazaar
Pune 411 001 Tel : 26362614
St. Joseph's Church
Catholics: 3, 800
Good Shepherd Church
Catholics: 3,030
St. Xavier's Church
Catholics: 1,300
Immaculate Conception Church (City Church)
Catholics: 3,214
St. Teresa's Church
Catholics: 1,450
St. Ignatius Church
Catholics: 6,964
Sacred Heart Church
Catholics: 7,625
Holy Cross Church
Catholics: 2,823
St. Francis de Sales Church
Catholics: 4,200
St. Anthony's Church
Our Lady Consoler of the Afflicted Church
St. Francis Xavier's Church
Catholics: 3,200
Infant Jesus Church
Catholics: 1,220
St. Sebastian's Church
Catholics: 940
St. Jude Church
Catholics: 1,035
St. Joseph's Church
Catholics: 1,000
Divine Mercy Church
Christ The King Church
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
St. Sebastian Chapel
NDA, Khadakvasla, Pune 411 023 c/o 25675681
Holy Family Chapel
Resurrection Chapel
Mother Teresa Centre
God The Holy Spirit Chapel - Sinhagad road, vitthalwadi
Bishops (Latin Rite)
Bishops of Poona
Crypt of William Zephyrine Gomes, located in the mausoleum of St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona
Bernhard Beiderlinden, S.J. (20 Dec 1886 - 1907 )
Heinrich Döring, S.J. (7 Sep 1907 - 16 Jun 1921), appointed titular archbishop; later returned here as Archbishop (personal title) (14 Jul 1927 - 15 Jan 1948)
Andrew Alexis D'Souza (12 May 1949 - 12 Jun 1967 )
William Zephyrine Gomes (12 Jun 1967 - 1 Dec 1976 )
