Bhagalpur (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Kurien Valiakandathil, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1965
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Patna
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 17,766 (6,862 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, Nawab Colony, P.O. Box 61, Bhagalpur-812001, Bihar, India
Telephone: (0641)2400.878

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur
- Latin Name: Bhagalpurensis
- Erected: 3 August 1956
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Urban Eugen McGarry, T.O.R. † (7 Aug 1956 Appointed - 30 Nov 1987 Retired)
George Victor Saupin, S.J. † (30 Nov 1987 Appointed - 2 Aug 1993 Died)
Thomas Kozhimala † (14 Jun 1996 Appointed - 1 Jun 2005 Died)
Kurien Valiakandathil (11 Jan 2007 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur
3 August 1956	Erected	Diocese of Patna (Bhagalpur and Godda, Deogarh and Sarawan, along with Mandro Bungalow I, Mandro Bungalow II, and Mandro Hill Tract)	Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur (erected)
Diocese of Bhagalpur
11 January 1965	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur	Diocese of Bhagalpur
25 April 1966	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bhagalpur (from Calcutta to Ranchi)
9 October 1970	Territory Added	Diocese of Patna (Chakai Revenue Thana)	Diocese of Bhagalpur
16 March 1999	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bhagalpur (from Ranchi)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Bhagalpur

1970 15,163 5,587,464 .3% 12 26 38 399 38 53 13 ap1971

1980 30,799 7,990,005 .4% 32 25 57 540 58 168 29 ap1981

1990 42,533 11,095,000 .4% 59 22 81 525 30 238 39 ap1991

1999 63,798 15,084,214 .4% 59 24 83 768 66 276 43 ap2000

2000 65,813 10,086,229 .7% 69 25 94 700 42 279 44 ap2001

2001 68,147 10,089,408 .7% 68 23 91 748 38 287 45 ap2002

2002 70,365 8,235,618 .9% 68 23 91 773 39 294 46 ap2003

2003 72,485 8,242,712 .9% 68 24 92 787 36 298 46 ap2004

2004 76,940 8,247,236 .9% 68 26 94 818 39 306 46 ap2005

2006 82,558 8,342,120 1.0% 79 26 105 786 53 352 48 ap2007

2012 78,359 9,446,000 .8% 91 30 121 647 62 431 69 ap2013

2015 84,998 9,491,472 .9% 98 31 129 658 83 457 69 ap2016

2018 90,530 9,864,500 .9% 98 26 124 730 70 491 82 ap2019

2020 98,037 10,115,567 1.0% 118 25 143 685 66 508 87 ap2021

2022 103,485 10,297,170 1.0% 115 25 140 739 65 502 87 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bhagalpur
1970	15,163	5,587,464	.3%	12	26	38	399	38	53	13	ap1971
1980	30,799	7,990,005	.4%	32	25	57	540	58	168	29	ap1981
1990	42,533	11,095,000	.4%	59	22	81	525	30	238	39	ap1991
1999	63,798	15,084,214	.4%	59	24	83	768	66	276	43	ap2000
2000	65,813	10,086,229	.7%	69	25	94	700	42	279	44	ap2001
2001	68,147	10,089,408	.7%	68	23	91	748	38	287	45	ap2002
2002	70,365	8,235,618	.9%	68	23	91	773	39	294	46	ap2003
2003	72,485	8,242,712	.9%	68	24	92	787	36	298	46	ap2004
2004	76,940	8,247,236	.9%	68	26	94	818	39	306	46	ap2005
2006	82,558	8,342,120	1.0%	79	26	105	786	53	352	48	ap2007
2012	78,359	9,446,000	.8%	91	30	121	647	62	431	69	ap2013
2015	84,998	9,491,472	.9%	98	31	129	658	83	457	69	ap2016
2018	90,530	9,864,500	.9%	98	26	124	730	70	491	82	ap2019
2020	98,037	10,115,567	1.0%	118	25	143	685	66	508	87	ap2021
2022	103,485	10,297,170	1.0%	115	25	140	739	65	502	87	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Peter Sebastian Goveas (Priest: 9 Dec 1983 to 22 Jul 2017)
Kurien Valiakandathil (Priest: 28 Oct 1977; Bishop: 11 Jan 2007 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Thomas Kozhimala † (Priest: 17 Oct 1970; Bishop: 14 Jun 1996 to 1 Jun 2005)
Urban Eugen McGarry, T.O.R. † (Prefect: 7 Aug 1956; Bishop: 11 Jan 1965 to 30 Nov 1987)
George Victor Saupin, S.J. † (Bishop: 30 Nov 1987 to 2 Aug 1993)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 119, and Page 120
Diocese of Bhagalpur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 122, and Page 123
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 692
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 91, Page 596, and Page 597

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.8, 30 Jun 2024; Data: 29 Jul 2024

✠

Diocese of Bhagalpur

Dioecesis Bhagalpurensis