Ecclesiastical Details - Catholics India

Diocese of Jamshedpur

Rite:

Latin

Population:

9200000

Status:

Diocese

Catholics:

65 300

Founded:

02-Jul-62

Diocesan Priests:

Total area:

4,988

Religious Priests:

114

Province:

Ranchi

Religious Sisters:

316

Region:

Jharkhand

Seminarians:

Patron:

St. Joseph the Worker

Languages:

Hindi English Bengali Ho Sandhali and Mundari

Civil States:

East & West Singhbhum Saraikela Dhanbad and Purulia.

Contact Diocese Office :

Bishop's House Golmuri Post Jamshedpur - 831 003. JHARKHAND.

Telephone 1:

0657-23 40 298 / 23 41 279

Fax:

23 41 279

E-Mail Office:

pajsrbishop@gmail.com

Website:

jamshedpurdiocese.org

Most Rev. Telesphore Bilung, SVD, Bishops of Jamshedpur

Name:

Most Rev. Telesphore Bilung, SVD

Designation:

Bishops

Canonical Possession:

2021-

Telephone (P):

E-mail (P):

Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Jamshedpur

Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Jamshedpur

Ecclesiastical Institutions

Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres

Educational Institutions

Parishes:

138

Hospitals:

Degree Colleges:

Major Seminaries:

Orphanages:

Technical Training Centres:

Minor Seminaries:

Special Schools:

High Schools:

Monastries:

Crèches:

Lower Primary Schools:

Convents:

Counselling Centres:

Presses & Media Centres:

Formation Houses:

Social Centres:

Professional Colleges:

Retreat Centres:

Dispensaries / Clinics:

Parallel Colleges:

Physically Challenged:

Higher Secondary :

Boarding Houses:

Upper Primary Schools:

HIV / AIDS Centres:

Nurseries/Pre-Primary :

De-addiction Centres:

Aged & Destitute:

History of the Diocese of Jamshedpur

The Diocese of Jamshedpur was erected on July 2 1962 in Jharkhand state. It comprises the district of East Singhbhum West Singhbhum (excluding the parish of Bandgoan) Saraikela - Kharswan Dhanbad a portion of Bokaro district (namely the Chandankiayari Block and the Chas Block which lie East of National Highway no.32) and in West Bengal it covers the District of Purulia.

The Districts of West Singhbhum and Saraikera - Kharswan were formerly part of the Archdiocese of Ranchi. The district of East Singhbhum Bokaro Dhanbad and Purulia were part of the Archdiocese of Calcutta.

Most Rev. Lawrence T. Picachy sj (1962 - 1969) and Most Rev. Joseph R. Rodericks sj (1971 -1996) were the former prelates. Most Rev. Felix Toppo sj was consecrated on September 271997 as its third Bishop.

The Work of the Church in Chotanagpur was initiated by the Belgian Jesuits of Calcutta province at Chaibasa in the year 1868. Manbhum (now Purulia Dhanbad and Bokaro districts) and Singhbhum (now East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela - Kharswan) were entrusted in the year 1947 to the care of American Jesuits of Maryland Province.

In the year 1962 at the time of the erection of the diocese only 8 parishes were existing. In the year 1964 among these 8 parishes the parishes of Bandgoan and Anandpur were transferred to the Archdiocese of Ranchi. At the re-organization of the Archdiocese of Ranchi the parish of Anandpur was once again transferred back to Jamshedpur in the year 1997.

The majority of the people in the diocese are living in villages which belong to the Hos Mundas and Santhal tribes. The cosmopolitan towns of Jamshedpur Purulia and Dhanbad have a floating population which comes for work from all the states of India. The languages of liturgical celebrations in the towns are Hindi and English. In the villages - Ho Mundari and Santhali are used.

The evangelization work among these villages has been making a steady progress. In the year 1962 there were only 8 parishes. Now the number of parishes in the diocese are 29. There are approximately 60000 Catholics in the diocese. Over the years Religious Congregations of men (5) and women (21) have come to the diocese. There are 146 priests and 318 Religious Sisters working in the diocese. The main thrust of the diocese along with the proclamation of the Gospel is the apostolates of education health and Justice & peace".

Prelates of the Diocese of Jamshedpur

Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period	Bishops Name	Prelate's Status	Period
	Apostolic Administrator	2019-2021		Bishop	1997-2018
	Bishop	1971-1969		Bishop	1962-1969