Tezpur (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Michael Akasius Toppo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 16 January 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Guwahati
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 15,320 (5,917 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Tezpur-784001, Sonitpur, Assam, India
Telephone: (03712)220.193

Past and Present Ordinaries

Orestes Marengo, S.D.B. † (6 Jul 1964 Appointed - 26 Jun 1969 Resigned)
Joseph Mittathany † (26 Jun 1969 Appointed - 28 Mar 1980 Appointed, Bishop of Imphal)
Robert Kerketta, S.D.B. † (24 Oct 1980 Appointed - 3 Dec 2007 Retired)
Michael Akasius Toppo (3 Dec 2007 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
16 January 1964	Erected	Diocese of Dibrugarh (Subansiri, Siang, and part of Lakhimpur) Diocese of Shillong (Darrang, Nowgong, and parts of Goalpara and Kamrup)	Diocese of Tezpur (erected)
26 June 1969	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Tezpur (from Calcutta)
20 January 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Tezpur (Bhutan)	Diocese of Darjeeling
30 March 1992	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Shillong-Gauhati Diocese of Tezpur Diocese of Tura	Diocese of Guwahati (erected) (Kokhrajar, Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpetta, Nalbari, Kamrup, and Nagaon (except Rupahihat, Kaliabar, and Samugari))
10 July 1995	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Tezpur (from Shillong)
7 December 2005	Territory Lost	Diocese of Tezpur (Tawang, West Kameng, East Kameng, Papum Pare, Upper Subasini, Lower Subasini, Kurung Kamey, West Siang, East Siang, and Upper Siang)	Diocese of Itanagar (erected)

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

1970 64,450 3,714,000 1.7% 15 14 29 2,222 21 59 12 ap1971

1980 106,000 7,036,000 1.5% 40 17 57 1,859 28 99 30 ap1981

1990 195,000 6,201,000 3.1% 56 26 82 2,378 26 150 40 ap1991

1999 175,898 5,288,000 3.3% 41 36 77 2,284 39 188 35 ap2000

2000 185,939 5,973,939 3.1% 43 38 81 2,295 45 197 40 ap2001

2001 190,200 7,053,200 2.7% 43 41 84 2,264 48 205 42 ap2002

2002 209,980 7,085,000 3.0% 45 45 90 2,333 57 220 43 ap2003

2003 218,145 7,251,372 3.0% 45 50 95 2,296 62 228 43 ap2004

2004 227,566 7,334,376 3.1% 47 54 101 2,253 66 235 46 ap2005

2005 108,800 4,335,100 2.5% 42 26 68 1,600 5 210 30 bul7Dec05

2010 184,041 4,623,000 4.0% 47 29 76 2,421 34 231 30 ap2011

2014 191,941 8,375,191 2.3% 51 38 89 2,156 89 239 32 ap2015

2017 194,820 8,705,620 2.2% 57 38 95 2,050 116 242 32 ap2018

2020 201,800 9,013,200 2.2% 61 50 111 1,818 128 250 33 ap2021

2022 192,992 8,375,205 2.3% 67 65 132 1,462 146 250 33 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	64,450	3,714,000	1.7%	15	14	29	2,222	21	59	12	ap1971
1980	106,000	7,036,000	1.5%	40	17	57	1,859	28	99	30	ap1981
1990	195,000	6,201,000	3.1%	56	26	82	2,378	26	150	40	ap1991
1999	175,898	5,288,000	3.3%	41	36	77	2,284	39	188	35	ap2000
2000	185,939	5,973,939	3.1%	43	38	81	2,295	45	197	40	ap2001
2001	190,200	7,053,200	2.7%	43	41	84	2,264	48	205	42	ap2002
2002	209,980	7,085,000	3.0%	45	45	90	2,333	57	220	43	ap2003
2003	218,145	7,251,372	3.0%	45	50	95	2,296	62	228	43	ap2004
2004	227,566	7,334,376	3.1%	47	54	101	2,253	66	235	46	ap2005
2005	108,800	4,335,100	2.5%	42	26	68	1,600	5	210	30	bul7Dec05
2010	184,041	4,623,000	4.0%	47	29	76	2,421	34	231	30	ap2011
2014	191,941	8,375,191	2.3%	51	38	89	2,156	89	239	32	ap2015
2017	194,820	8,705,620	2.2%	57	38	95	2,050	116	242	32	ap2018
2020	201,800	9,013,200	2.2%	61	50	111	1,818	128	250	33	ap2021
2022	192,992	8,375,205	2.3%	67	65	132	1,462	146	250	33	ap2023