Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur

Last updated

Diocese of Bhagalpur

Dioecesis Bhagalpurensis
catholic
Building at Bhagalpur Diocese.jpg
This was the first building where the Christian Settlement at Bhagalpur Diocese began
Location
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Ecclesiastical province Patna
Metropolitan Patna
Statistics
Area17,766 km2 (6,859 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2012)
9,446,000
78,359 (0.8%)
Parishes140 [1]
Schools70
Information
Rite Latin Rite
CathedralCathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Bhagalpur
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Kurian (Ciriaco) Valiakandathil
Metropolitan ArchbishopWilliam D'Souza
Website
http://www.dioceseofbhagalpur.org/

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur (Latin : Bhagalpuren(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Bhagalpur in the ecclesiastical province of Patna in India.

Contents

History

Christian presence from 1779 has been documented. The early Christians were mainly indigo planters, railwaymen and their dependents. They did have a few handful of natives.

During the Capuchin period (1779–1919), Bhagalpur was at first the part of Prefecture of Tibet-Hindustan erected by the Sacred Congregation of the Evangelisation of the Peoples in 1703. It became a resident station in 1783.

The Jesuit period (1919–1983): The Patna Jesuits started working here since 1921. Their missionary efforts were directed mainly among the Santhals.

On 3 August 1956, [2] [3] Bhagalpur was detached from the Patna Diocese and the prefecture apostolic was established. Urban McGarry tor was appointed the prefect apostolic.

It was promoted as Diocese of Bhagalpur on 11 January 1965. [2] [3] Urban Eugene McGarry tor [2] [3] was appointed as its first bishop. The diocese comprised the districts of Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui and the civil blocks of lakshmipur, Kharagpur and Tarapur of Mnger district of Bihar, Godda, Giridih, Deoghar and Sarawan of Deoghar district and Mandro block of Sahebgunj district of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand controversies

In July 2018, Sister Konsalia Balsa and charity worker Anima Indwar, who both served in the local Missionaries of Charity chapter, were arrested for selling a baby in Jharkhand they put up for adoption through Missionaries of Charity for $1750. [4] Catholic property in Jharkhand falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Bhagalpur. [5]

On September 10, 2019, Crux reported that Father Benoy John and catechist Munna Hansda were part of an effort to forcibly convert locals in Jharkhand and were arrested on charges of forced conversion on September 6, 2019. [5] Father Arun Vincent was also suspected of working with John and Hansda, but was not formally arrested and later released. [5] Both John and Hansda were also revealed to have illegally occupying land to

Leadership

Seminary

This seminary at Bhagalpur, Sahibgunj is the training center for the first two years of priesthood. A hostel is attached to the seminary where students live. To the right is the hostel and to the left is the seminary.

Hospitals

There are 42 hospitals run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur. Punaruthanam Ashram at Sahebgunj is working for the Psychiatric patients of Bhagalpur

Schools

There are more than 70 schools run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur. The most well known are St Joseph's School, Bhagalpur - Bhagalpur, Mount Assisi School - Bhagalpur, Mount Carmel School - Bhagalpur, St. Joseph's School - Kahalgaon, St. Teresa School - Bhagalpur, C.M.S. School - Bhagalpur, St. Paul's School Bhagalpur.

The list of schools is given here:

SchoolLocationPrincipal
Carmel SchoolGiridihM. Basil
Mount Carmel School (Bhagalpur) BhagalpurCarmine Marie
Mount Assisi School BhagalpurAugustine Kulapuram
Mount Assisi School, RanitalabBhagalpurThomas Chittookalam
Saint Francis School Deoghar DeogharJohn Kochuchira
St. Thomas School, GoddaGoddaValson
St. Joseph's School, JhajhaJamuiMathew A.C.
St. Joseph's School, KabirpurBhagalpurVarghese Panangatt
St. Joseph's School, NTPCBhagalpurVincent Saldanha
St. Joseph's School, Pakartalla, Kahalgaon BhagalpurAugustine Pereira
St. Francis Junior School, JasidihDeogharSr. Caroline
St. Theresa's SchoolBhagalpurSr. Scholastica
St. Theresa's School, AliganjBhagalpurSr. Rosemeir
St. Joseph's School, JagathpurBankaJoseph Thanniparampil

Hostels

List of Boys hostels run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur

HostelLocation
Sacred Heart Hostel, BabumahalBanka
Savio Hostel, BacchaSahebganj
St. Joseph's Hostel, BaromasiaGodda.
St. Paul's Hostel, BhaluaJamui
St. Patrick's Hostel, BasmataBanka.
St. Joseph's Hostel, BelatanrGiridih
Sacred Heart Hostel, ChakaiJamui
Prabhat Tara Hostel, ChandanahatGodda
St. Theresa's Hostel, CharkapatharBanka.
St. Joseph's Hostel, ChirkeeGiridih.
St. Joseph's Hostel, DakaitaGodda.
St. Joseph's Hostel, ChirkeeGiridih.
Boys Hostel, DambruhatGodda
St. Mary's Hostel, KhorimahuaGiridih
St. Thomas's Hostel, DulabithaGiridih
St. Jude's Hostel, DumariaBanka.
Vianney Hostel, Giridih.Giridih
Cannel English Medium School HostelGiridih.
Carmel Hindi Medium School HostelGiridih
St. Mary's Hostel, AgiamurGodda
Krist Raja HostelGodda
St. Stanislaus Hostel, GokhlaBhagalpur
Prabhat Tara Hostel, HarimohraBanka
Jhajha-Arunoday Hostel, JhajhaJamui.
St. Xavier's Hostel, KharagpurMunger.
St. Joseph's Hostel, LeelaSahebganj
St. John Britto H.S.Hostel, MaheshmundaGiridih
St. John Britto M.S.Hostel, MaheshmundaGiridih
Infant Jesus Hostel, MangraGodda.
Mission Hostel, ManikbathanGodda
St. Daniel's Hostel, MariampahariJamui
St. Francis H. S. Hostel, PoreyahatGodda
St. Francis M. S. Hostel, PoreyahatGodda
St. Anthony's Hostel, PhulbariaGodda
Pushpa Hostel, SokhoJamui
St. Thomas Hostel, SundermurGodda
St. Paul's Hostel, ThillaiyaGiridih
St. Anthony's Hostel, TilkimaronGiridih
Little Flower Hostel, KusumbaGodda.
St. Mary's Hostel, TisriGiridih.

List of Girls hostels run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur

HostelLocation
St. Mary's Hostel, AgiamurGodda
Savio Hostel, BacchaSahebganj.
St. Joseph's Hostel, BaromasiaGodda.
St. Paul's Hostel, BhaluaJamui
St. Patrick's Hostel, BhaluaJamui.
St. Patricks's Hostel, BasmataBanka.
Holy Cross Hostel, BelatanrGiridih.
Sacred Heart Hostel, ChakaiJamui
Holy Cross Hostel, ChandnahatGodda.
Holy Family Hostel, CharkapatharBanka
St. Joseph's Hostel, ChirkyDt.Giridih
St. Joseph's Hostel, DakaitaGodda
St. Joseph's Hostel, DambruhatGodda.
Maria Hostel, KhorimahuaGiridih
Holy Cross Hostel, DulabithaGiridih.
St. Jude's Hostel, DumariaBanka
St. Michael's H. S. Hostel, GokhlaBhagalpur
Nirmala H. S. Hostel, HarimohraBanka
St. Francis Hostel, KathibariGodda
Xavier Hostel, KharagpurMunger.
St. Joseph's Hostel, LeelaSahebganj.
Krist Raja Hostel, Godda.Godda
St. Michael's M. S. Hostel, GokhlaBhagalpur.
Holy Family Hostel, MangraGodda
Holy Family Hostel, MariampahariJamui
Holy Family Hostel, PoreyahatGodda.
St. Anthony's Hostel, PhulbariaGodda
Pushpa Hostel, SokhoJamui.
St. Thomas's Hostel, SundermurGodda.
St. Paul's Hostel, ThillaiyaGiridih.
St. Mary's Hostel, TisriGiridih
Little Flower Hostel, KusumbaGodda

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syro-Malankara Catholic Church</span> Eastern Catholic church

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, also known as the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular church in full communion with the worldwide Catholic Church possessing self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. It is one of the major archiepiscopal churches of the Catholic Church. It is headed by Major Archbishop Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum based in Kerala, India. With more than 1096 parishes, its one of India's biggest church evangelical establishments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Society for the Propagation of the Faith</span> Catholic mission agency

The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is an international association coordinating assistance for Catholic missionary priests, brothers, and nuns in mission areas. The society was founded in Lyon, France, in 1822, by Pauline Jaricot. It is the oldest of four Pontifical Mission Societies of the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumka</span> City in Jharkhand, India

Dumka, the headquarters of the Dumka district and Santhal Pargana region, is a city in the state of Jharkhand, India. It was made the headquarters of the Santhal Pargana region, which was carved out of the Bhagalpur and Birbhum district after the Santal Hool of 1855. Dumka was carved out of the southern part of Bihar along with 18 other Districts on 15 November 2000 to form Jharkhand as 28th State of India. Dumka is a peaceful and green city and also sub-capital of Jharkhand. The nearest important cities are Rampurhat and Deoghar.

An apostolic prefect or prefect apostolic is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a 'pre-diocesan' missionary jurisdiction where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese. Although it usually has an (embryonal) see, it is often not called after such city but rather after a natural feature, or administrative geographical area, which may be a name in use by the local inhabitants, or one assigned by a colonial authority, depending on the circumstances under which the prefecture was established.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong</span> Diocese of the Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church. The diocese takes its name from the see city, the metropolitan area where the bishop resides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi</span> Catholic archdiocese in Jharkhand, India

The Ranchi Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese comprises the districts of Ranchi and Lohardaga of Jharkhand state, India. It was established by a decree of the Holy See dated 25 May 1927, when it was separated from the Calcutta Archdiocese to form a new Diocese, with its episcopal seat at Ranchi. In 1953 it was elevated to the status of an archdiocese. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi declares that it "subscribes to ahimsa and satyagraha".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Myanmar</span>

The Catholic Church in Myanmar is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. In 2020, there were approximately 700,000 Catholics in Burma - approximately 1.29% of the total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Knox</span> Australian Catholic cardinal

James Robert Knox GCC was an Australian prelate of the Catholic Church. After years as a Vatican diplomat, he served as Archbishop of Melbourne from 1967 to 1974, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 1974 to 1981, and president of the Pontifical Council for the Family from 1981 until his death in 1983. Created a cardinal in 1973, he was the first Australian to serve in the Roman Curia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfredo Obviar</span> Filipino bishop and Venerable

Alfredo María Obviar y Aranda was a Filipino prelate of the Roman Catholic Church and the founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of Saint Thérèse of the Infant Jesus. He was Bishop of Lucena until his death. His beatification process was opened in 2001 and Obviar was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2018.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Same is a diocese located in the Same District in the ecclesiastical province of Arusha in Tanzania.

The Archdiocese of Patna is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Indian. Its episcopal see is Patna, in the state of Bihar. A metropolitan see, the archdiocese has five suffragan dioceses in its ecclesiastical province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Bihar, India

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah is a diocese located in the city of Bettiah in the ecclesiastical province of Patna in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Daet</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Camarines Norte, the Philippines

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Daet is a diocese located in the capital town of Daet in the province of Camarines Norte in the Philippines.

St. Joseph's School, Pakartalla is a private, coeducational, English-medium school located about 2 km from the town of Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district in the state of Bihar, India. While founded and operated by the Catholic Church, it accepts students without regard to caste or religion. Established in 1989, the school today enrolls as many as 2500 and has an alumni base of approximately 800.

The role of a Catholic catechist is to catechize the faith of the Catholic Church by both word and example. The Directory for Catechesis states that faith must be "known, celebrated, lived, and turned into prayer" in a personal and total encounter of the heart, mind and senses with Christ. St. John Paul II describes the aim of catechesis as putting "people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicolas Champenois</span>

Nicolas Champenois was a missionary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society and was the Superior of Karnatic Mission after Pierre Brigot from 8 November 1791 until his death. He was succeeded by Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Solomon Islands was an exempt Roman Catholic Apostolic vicariate in the Northern Solomon Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wenceslao Padilla</span> Filipino Catholic bishop (1949–2018)

Wenceslao Selga Padilla was a Filipino Scheut priest who from 2 August 2003 was the Apostolic prefect of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Mongolia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfredo Verzosa</span> Filipino bishop and Servant of God

Alfredo Verzosa y Florentín was the fourth native Filipino to be elevated as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church and the first from Northern Luzon – the first Ilocano. Together with a widow Laura Latorre Mendoza, and catechist, they founded the Congregation of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH), a congregation focusing on the missions of education and administration within the church, especially of Catholic catechesis. His cause for beatification is currently underway, having been declared Servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerzy Mazur</span> Polish Roman Catholic bishop (born 1953)

Jerzy Mazur is a Polish Roman Catholic bishop, being the head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ełk since 2003. He was previously a missionary, as well as a bishop in Siberia and the titular bishop of Tabunia.

References

  1. "Diocese of Bhagalpur | Diocesan Directory | UCAN India". Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Diocese of Bhagalpur, India 🇮🇳". GCatholic. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bhagalpur (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". catholic-hierarchy.org. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024.
  4. Doshi, Vidhi (10 July 2018) [2018-07-06]. "Nun from Mother Teresa's charity in India arrested on suspicion of selling baby". The Washington Post . Washington, D.C. ISSN   0190-8286. OCLC   1330888409.
  5. 1 2 3 Carvalho, Nirmana (10 September 2019). "Priest, catechist accused of 'forced conversion' in eastern India". Crux. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023.

25°14′59″N86°56′54″E / 25.2496°N 86.9484°E / 25.2496; 86.9484