Ecclesiastical Details

Diocese of Sambalpur
Heirarchy of the Diocese
Rite:
Latin
Population:
7,139,384
 
Status:
Diocese
Catholics:
42808
 
Founded:
14-Jun-51
Diocesan Priests:
54
  Total area:
8542 sq.kms.
Religious Priests:
60
 
Province:
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
Religious Sisters:
275
 
Region:
Orissa
Seminarians:
28
  Patron:
St. Joseph
  Languages: English Hindi Kharia Mundari Oraon Oriya Sadri
  Civil States: Orissa: Cuttack Jajpur Jagatsinghpur Kendrapara Khurda Phulbani (Kandhamal) Boudh Nayagarh and Puri
Contact Diocese Office :
Bishop's House Ainthapali Sambalpur- 768 004. ORISSA.
Telephone 1:
0663-25 40 327 25 41 656 / 25 41 656
Fax:
25 41 656
 
E-Mail Office:
diogese@sancharnet.in
Website:
 
Most Rev. Niranjan Sual Singh, Bishops of Sambalpur
Name:
Most Rev. Niranjan Sual Singh
Designation:
Bishops   Canonical Possession: 2013-
Telephone (P):
E-mail (P):
 
Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Sambalpur
 
Bishops NameDesignationPeriod
Retired 1987-2013
Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Sambalpur
 
Ecclesiastical Institutions
 
Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres
Educational Institutions
Parishes:
237
 
Hospitals:
3
   
Degree Colleges:
2
Major Seminaries:
 
Orphanages:
2
   
Technical Training Centres:
5
Minor Seminaries:
3
 
Special Schools:
2
   
High Schools:
15
Monastries:
1
 
Crèches:
   
Lower Primary Schools:
51
Convents:
46
 
Counselling Centres:
1
   
Presses & Media Centres:
1
Formation Houses:
9
 
Social Centres:
2
   
Professional Colleges:
Retreat Centres:
2
 
Dispensaries / Clinics:
18
   
Parallel Colleges:
 
Physically Challenged:
   
Higher Secondary :
2
       
Boarding Houses:
14
   
Upper Primary Schools:
42
       
HIV / AIDS Centres:
1
   
Nurseries/Pre-Primary :
20
       
De-addiction Centres:
1
       
          Aged & Destitute: 1        
     
       
History of the Diocese of Sambalpur
 

The Diocese of Sambalpur formerly called "Gangpur Mission" was started by the Jesuit Fathers in 1908. The Divine Word Fathers took it over in 1948. Today it is one of the suffragans of the Archdiocese of Cuttack - Bhubaneshwar.


The diocese was erected by the Apostolic Constitution dated June 14 1951 by taking over parts of the Archdioceses of Calcutta Ranchi and Nagpur. Then it consisted of districts of Sundargarh Bolangir Sambalpur and Dhenkanal in the State of Orissa. Bp Herman Westermann svd was consecrated on July 29 1951 as its First Bishop who after 23 years of dedicated service retired on March 16 1974.


One of the four districts Sundargarh was separated from the diocese on July 16 1979 and the Diocese of Rourkela was created. Its First Bishop Bp Aplhonse Bilung svd was ordained on November 3 1979. Abp Raphael Cheenath svd who was residing in Rourkela before the division shifted his residence to Sambalpur on November 18 1979. Abp Raphael Cheenath svd was transferred to the Archdiocese of Cuttack - Bhubaneshwar in 1985. He was succeeded by Bp Lucas Kerketta svd in 1987.


After its division the diocese is bounded on the North by the Diocese of Rourkela and on the South by the Archdiocese of Cuttack - Bhubaneshwar. To the West and the North - West lie the Dioceses of Raipur and Raigarh respectively while the Diocese of Balasore lies to the East and South - East.

 
Prelates of the Diocese of Sambalpur
Bishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriodBishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriod
Bishop 1951-1974