Contact Details
Claret House
Christu Raj Mission
Chodavaram P.O
Visakhapatnam – 531 036
Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Tel.: (+91) (0)8934-245 261
E-mail: clarethouse@rediffmail.com

Inception and Development
The Claretian mission at Chodavaram in the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh was opened on 1 August 1993, under the initiatives of Fr. Mathew Vazhuthanappallil. He began to stay at this village chapel while serving as assistant parish priest in Madugula Parish. Two years later, on 4 June 1995, on the Solemnity of the Pentecost, Most Rev. K. Mariadas, the Archbishop of Visakhapatnam, erected Christ the King Church at Chodavaram as a parish. People of the locality are predominantly agriculturists, who depend on monsoons for their fortunes. Three major religions - Hinduism, Islam and Christianity - are practiced in this region.

Pastoral Ministry
The Chodavaram mission is spread over five civil administrative blocks (mandals) with 29 Catholic villages, over a distance of 30 kms in radius. The people are generally very receptive to the Word of God, and the parish has an average of 50 new baptisms every year.

Evangelization and education in view of integral development are the objectives of the mission. The Missionaries have launched a number of projects for realizing its objectives. In connection with the 150 th year Jubilee of the Congregation, the Missionaries helped in constructing 52 houses for the poor homeless in the parish.

Pious organizations like CYM (Catholic Youth Movement), St Vincent De Paul Society and Mariadalam are active in the parish. Medical helps and educational scholarships are also provided to the needy. At present there are 255 families under the pastoral care of the parish with a total strength of around 700 Catholics. The parish is involved in running an elementary school in Telugu medium.