Raipur (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Victor Henry Thakur, Archbishop
Joseph Augustine Charanakunnel, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 27 February 2004
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 60,819 (23,491 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Khristbandhu Niwas, Byron Bazar, Raipur-492001, Chhattisgarh, India
Telephone: (0771)4052.429

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur
- Latin Name: Raipurensis
- Erected: 16 January 1964
- Country: India
Diocese of Raipur
- Latin Name: Raipurensis
- Elevated: 5 July 1973
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bhopal
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

John A. Weidner, S.A.C. † (17 Jan 1964 Appointed - 1973 Resigned)
Philip Ekka, S.J. † (20 Oct 1984 Appointed - 15 Feb 1991 Resigned)
Joseph Augustine Charanakunnel (21 Nov 1992 Appointed - 3 Jul 2013 Retired)
Victor Henry Thakur (3 Jul 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur
16 January 1964	Erected	Archdiocese of Nagpur (Civil Districts: Raipur, Bilaspur, and Drug)	Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur (erected)
16 June 1966	Territory Added	Diocese of Visakhapatnam (Bastar District)	Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur
23 March 1972	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur (Bastar)	Apostolic Exarchate of Jagdalpur (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
Diocese of Raipur
5 July 1973	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur	Diocese of Raipur
Archdiocese of Raipur
27 February 2004	Elevated	Diocese of Raipur	Archdiocese of Raipur

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

Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur

1970 24,102 7,800,000 .3% 13 14 27 892 23 116 8 ap1971

Diocese of Raipur

1980 32,093 7,498,019 .4% 45 23 68 471 116 222 37 ap1981

1990 40,927 13,578,294 .3% 65 24 89 459 34 312 56 ap1991

1999 44,129 11,821,000 .4% 91 28 119 370 36 372 59 ap2000

2000 43,889 11,760,700 .4% 76 34 110 398 46 334 63 ap2001

2001 46,900 11,866,000 .4% 76 34 110 426 42 380 61 ap2002

2002 47,481 11,546,784 .4% 96 44 140 339 54 386 61 ap2003

2003 47,921 11,546,784 .4% 97 46 143 335 49 389 62 ap2004

Archdiocese of Raipur

2004 48,949 11,546,784 .4% 98 52 150 326 59 401 63 ap2005

2010 59,997 15,553,000 .4% 89 41 130 461 53 323 78 ap2011

2014 72,997 17,122,891 .4% 87 60 147 496 69 513 66 ap2015

2017 74,500 17,783,000 .4% 85 70 155 480 82 551 66 ap2018

2020 53,800 18,871,400 .3% 90 87 177 303 103 481 68 ap2021

2022 48,440 21,572,964 .2% 85 89 174 278 101 552 68 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur
1970	24,102	7,800,000	.3%	13	14	27	892	23	116	8	ap1971
Diocese of Raipur
1980	32,093	7,498,019	.4%	45	23	68	471	116	222	37	ap1981
1990	40,927	13,578,294	.3%	65	24	89	459	34	312	56	ap1991
1999	44,129	11,821,000	.4%	91	28	119	370	36	372	59	ap2000
2000	43,889	11,760,700	.4%	76	34	110	398	46	334	63	ap2001
2001	46,900	11,866,000	.4%	76	34	110	426	42	380	61	ap2002
2002	47,481	11,546,784	.4%	96	44	140	339	54	386	61	ap2003
2003	47,921	11,546,784	.4%	97	46	143	335	49	389	62	ap2004
Archdiocese of Raipur
2004	48,949	11,546,784	.4%	98	52	150	326	59	401	63	ap2005
2010	59,997	15,553,000	.4%	89	41	130	461	53	323	78	ap2011
2014	72,997	17,122,891	.4%	87	60	147	496	69	513	66	ap2015
2017	74,500	17,783,000	.4%	85	70	155	480	82	551	66	ap2018
2020	53,800	18,871,400	.3%	90	87	177	303	103	481	68	ap2021
2022	48,440	21,572,964	.2%	85	89	174	278	101	552	68	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Joseph Augustine Charanakunnel (Bishop: 21 Nov 1992; Archbishop: 27 Feb 2004 to 3 Jul 2013)
Victor Henry Thakur (Archbishop: 3 Jul 2013 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Philip Ekka, S.J. † (Bishop: 20 Oct 1984 to 15 Feb 1991)
John A. Weidner, S.A.C. † (Prefect: 17 Jan 1964 to 1973)
Francis Werner Hunold, S.A.C. † (Apostolic Administrator: 23 Aug 1975 to 1983)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Raipur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 789, and Page 790
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 598
Diocese of Raipur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 66, Page 312, and Page 313
Archdiocese of Raipur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 96, Page 390, and Page 391

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Archdiocese of Raipur

Archidioecesis Raipurensis