Sambalpur (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Niranjan Sual Singh, Bishop
Lucas Kerketta, S.V.D., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 June 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 37,035 (14,304 Square Miles)
Description: Sambalpur, Anugul, Bargarh, Bolangir, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, and Sonepur
Official Web Site: http://www.sambalpurdiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Ainthapali, P.O. Buddharaja, Sambalpur-768004, Orissa, India
Telephone: (0865)8174.176

Past and Present Ordinaries

Hermann Westermann, S.V.D. † (14 Jun 1951 Appointed - 28 Feb 1974 Resigned)
Raphael Cheenath, S.V.D. † (28 Feb 1974 Appointed - 1 Jul 1985 Appointed, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar)
Lucas Kerketta, S.V.D. (17 Nov 1986 Appointed - 26 Jul 2013 Retired)
Niranjan Sual Singh (26 Jul 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 June 1951	Erected	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Rairakhol, Athmalik, Angul, Pallahara, Talcher, Hindol, and Dhenkanal along with part of Sambalpur and Sonpur) Diocese of Nagpur (Patna and part of Sambalpur and Sonpur) Diocese of Ranchi (Gangpur, Bonai, and Bamra)	Diocese of Sambalpur (erected)
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Sambalpur (from Calcutta)
24 January 1974	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Sambalpur (from Ranchi)
4 July 1979	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sambalpur (Sundargarh)	Diocese of Rourkela (erected)

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

1969 115,280 4,500,000 2.6% 7 51 58 1,987 60 225 25 ap1971

1980 20,854 5,912,000 .4% 3 22 25 834 28 52 12 ap1981

1990 27,552 5,535,200 .5% 7 38 45 612 50 86 16 ap1991

1999 37,119 6,292,825 .6% 21 45 66 562 50 171 20 ap2000

2000 30,898 6,292,825 .5% 22 56 78 396 61 194 21 ap2001

2001 31,668 6,292,825 .5% 24 47 71 446 55 188 21 ap2002

2002 32,891 6,292,825 .5% 24 47 71 463 57 208 21 ap2003

2003 33,922 7,139,404 .5% 24 56 80 424 63 209 22 ap2004

2004 34,624 7,139,384 .5% 25 42 67 516 48 207 22 ap2005

2010 40,256 7,548,100 .5% 39 55 94 428 61 258 22 ap2011

2014 45,497 7,552,050 .6% 54 95 149 305 124 286 22 ap2015

2017 44,389 7,436,673 .6% 64 75 139 319 109 305 23 ap2018

2020 45,931 7,604,700 .6% 66 85 151 304 109 317 24 ap2021

2022 47,931 8,443,000 .6% 66 83 149 321 110 318 24 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1969	115,280	4,500,000	2.6%	7	51	58	1,987	60	225	25	ap1971
1980	20,854	5,912,000	.4%	3	22	25	834	28	52	12	ap1981
1990	27,552	5,535,200	.5%	7	38	45	612	50	86	16	ap1991
1999	37,119	6,292,825	.6%	21	45	66	562	50	171	20	ap2000
2000	30,898	6,292,825	.5%	22	56	78	396	61	194	21	ap2001
2001	31,668	6,292,825	.5%	24	47	71	446	55	188	21	ap2002
2002	32,891	6,292,825	.5%	24	47	71	463	57	208	21	ap2003
2003	33,922	7,139,404	.5%	24	56	80	424	63	209	22	ap2004
2004	34,624	7,139,384	.5%	25	42	67	516	48	207	22	ap2005
2010	40,256	7,548,100	.5%	39	55	94	428	61	258	22	ap2011
2014	45,497	7,552,050	.6%	54	95	149	305	124	286	22	ap2015
2017	44,389	7,436,673	.6%	64	75	139	319	109	305	23	ap2018
2020	45,931	7,604,700	.6%	66	85	151	304	109	317	24	ap2021
2022	47,931	8,443,000	.6%	66	83	149	321	110	318	24	ap2023