Raigarh (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Paul Toppo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Split: 10 November 1977
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Raipur
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 7,086 (2,736 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://raigarhdiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, St. Michael's Church, Rambhata, Raigarh-496001, Chhattisgarh, India
Telephone: 798.7739.427
Fax: (07762)226.523

Historical Details

Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur
- Latin Name: Raigarhensis-Ambikapurensis
- Erected: 13 December 1951
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bhopal
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Oscar Sevrin, S.J. † (13 Dec 1951 Appointed - 8 Nov 1957 Resigned)
Stanislaus Tigga † (24 Dec 1957 Appointed - 9 Jul 1970 Died)
Francis Ekka † (24 Apr 1971 Appointed - 15 Mar 1984 Died)
Victor Kindo † (25 Nov 1985 Appointed - 23 Mar 2006 Appointed, Bishop of Jashpur)
Paul Toppo (23 Mar 2006 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur
13 December 1951	Erected	Diocese of Nagpur (Rest of Raigarh) Diocese of Ranchi (Surguia and most of Raigarh)	Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur (erected)
19 September 1953	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur (from Calcutta)
13 September 1963	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur (from Nagpur)
10 November 1977	Split	Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur	Diocese of Ambikapur (Surguja) Diocese of Raigarh
Diocese of Raigarh
10 November 1977	Split	Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur	Diocese of Ambikapur (Surguja) Diocese of Raigarh
27 February 2004	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Raigarh (from Bhopal)
23 March 2006	Territory Lost	Diocese of Raigarh (Jashpur)	Diocese of Jashpur (erected)

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 Raigarh-Ambikapur

1970 168,980 2,227,964 7.6% 38 47 85 1,988 67 167 13 ap1971

Diocese of Raigarh

1980 172,670 1,316,000 13.1% 39 34 73 2,365 37 247 24 ap1981

1990 210,000 1,526,000 13.8% 82 40 122 1,721 58 308 39 ap1991

1999 238,887 2,110,305 11.3% 121 43 164 1,456 52 422 50 ap2000

2000 246,337 2,175,936 11.3% 129 40 169 1,457 46 370 51 ap2001

2001 251,230 2,219,181 11.3% 138 42 180 1,395 56 429 55 ap2002

2002 237,690 2,238,486 10.6% 139 36 175 1,358 50 394 58 ap2003

2003 242,125 2,257,958 10.7% 145 49 194 1,248 64 418 61 ap2004

2004 242,915 2,258,748 10.8% 145 49 194 1,252 63 431 64 ap2005

2006 56,640 1,265,084 4.5% 43 8 51 1,110 92 18 bul23Mar2006

2010 61,770 1,367,000 4.5% 53 6 59 1,046 7 98 21 ap2011

2014 64,401 1,493,627 4.3% 55 11 66 975 11 124 21 ap2015

2017 66,846 1,513,025 4.4% 60 13 73 915 13 124 46 ap2018

2020 73,665 1,578,000 4.7% 57 12 69 1,067 12 134 25 ap2021

2022 74,707 1,652,278 4.5% 63 11 74 1,009 11 127 25 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur
1970	168,980	2,227,964	7.6%	38	47	85	1,988	67	167	13	ap1971
Diocese of Raigarh
1980	172,670	1,316,000	13.1%	39	34	73	2,365	37	247	24	ap1981
1990	210,000	1,526,000	13.8%	82	40	122	1,721	58	308	39	ap1991
1999	238,887	2,110,305	11.3%	121	43	164	1,456	52	422	50	ap2000
2000	246,337	2,175,936	11.3%	129	40	169	1,457	46	370	51	ap2001
2001	251,230	2,219,181	11.3%	138	42	180	1,395	56	429	55	ap2002
2002	237,690	2,238,486	10.6%	139	36	175	1,358	50	394	58	ap2003
2003	242,125	2,257,958	10.7%	145	49	194	1,248	64	418	61	ap2004
2004	242,915	2,258,748	10.8%	145	49	194	1,252	63	431	64	ap2005
2006	56,640	1,265,084	4.5%	43	8	51	1,110		92	18	bul23Mar2006
2010	61,770	1,367,000	4.5%	53	6	59	1,046	7	98	21	ap2011
2014	64,401	1,493,627	4.3%	55	11	66	975	11	124	21	ap2015
2017	66,846	1,513,025	4.4%	60	13	73	915	13	124	46	ap2018
2020	73,665	1,578,000	4.7%	57	12	69	1,067	12	134	25	ap2021
2022	74,707	1,652,278	4.5%	63	11	74	1,009	11	127	25	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Francis Ekka † (Bishop: 24 Apr 1971 to 15 Mar 1984)
Victor Kindo † (Priest: 14 Dec 1974; Bishop: 25 Nov 1985 to 23 Mar 2006)
Oscar Sevrin, S.J. † (Bishop: 13 Dec 1951 to 8 Nov 1957)
Stanislaus Tigga † (Coadjutor Bishop: 7 Nov 1955; Bishop: 24 Dec 1957 to 9 Jul 1970)

Source(s)

Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 393, to Page 395
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 83, to Page 87
Diocese of Raigarh
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 70, Page 82, and Page 83
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 70, Page 265
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 96, Page 390, and Page 391

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Diocese of Raigarh

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