On Aug. 21, 2007, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, erected the new diocese of Bhadravathi by separating civil district of Shimoga from the territory of the Mananthavady diocese and appointed Father Joseph Arumachadath, MCBS, as its first bishop.
The diocese serves an area of 10,553 square kilometers with a total population of 1,639,595 of which 6,000 are Syro-Malabar Catholics. There are 13 parishes and six mission stations in the diocese. There are 26 priests serving the diocese.
Eight religious congregations are involved in ministry through 14 educational institutions, six orphanages, 12 healthcare institutions and other social and developmental activities under the Malanad Social Service Society, the official diocesan agency for social work.