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History
of Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese
Latin Rite
The Archdiocese of Ranchi comprises the civil District of Ranchi (minus
Khunti Subdivision) and District of Lohardaga.
The first Belgian Jesuit to enter Chotanagpur was Fr. Auguste
Stockman. He traveled by bullock cart from Midnapur and after a
difficult journey of a fortnight reached Chaibasa (now in the Diocese of
Jamshedpur) on Nov. 25, 1868 for a brief visit. He settled down at
Chaibasa on 10.07.1869. The first Munda converts were baptized on
08.11.1873. His work among the Ho tribe did not yield results, so he
moved towards the Ranchi District in January 1875. Other Belgian
Jesuits came to Ranchi in 1877 to act as military chaplains to the troops
at Doranda (Ranchi). As the prospects of evangelization among the
tribals of Chotanagpur were bright, the first mission stations were opened
among the Mundas. However, the real impetus came from the servant of
God Constant Lievens who arrived at Doranda on March 18, 1885. He is
often called the Apostle of Chotanagpur. His cause has been
introduced at Brugge on 01.11.2000.
To assist the missionaries, the Irish Loreto Sisters from Calcutta opened
a Convent on Purulia Road, Ranchi. It was here that the Daughters of
St. Anne, a Diocesan Congregation had their beginning in 1897. The
Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, Belgium replaced the Loreto nuns in the same
compound in 1903.
By 1927 the Ranchi Mission had developed to such an extent that by decree
of the Holy See, dated May 25, 1927, it was separated from the Calcutta
Archdiocese to form a new Diocese with Ranchi as its Episcopal seat and
Msgr. Louis Van Hoeck as the first bishop. He was succeeded by Rt.
Rev. O. Sevrin, S.J., in 1934, who was pastor for 18 years (1934-1952).
As the faith spread and took firm root in Chotanagpur, the Catholic Church
was being built up and developed, especially through parishes and
schools. Soon the rapid growth of the mission made it imperative to
call in other labourers, the S.V.D. Fathers, the Australian and American
Jesuits, etc.
For better pastoral care of the faithful, the vast Archdiocese of Ranchi
was divided and on June 14, 1951, the Diocese of Sambalpur and on December
13, 1951, the Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur were created on September 19,
1953, the Diocese of Ranchi was raised to the status of an Archdiocese
with Sambalpur and Cuttack as its suffragans. On July 2, 1962, the
Diocese of Jamshedpur was created. Then in 1968, the Diocese of
Patna and Bhagalpur and the Prefecture of Balasore were made suffragans of
Ranchi Archdiocese. Again in 1971, the Diocese of Daltonganj,
comprising the civil districts of Hazaribag and Palamau was carved out of
the Archdiocese of Ranchi. In 1980, Muzaffarpur Diocese was formed
from a part of Patna Diocese and made suffragan of Ranchi.
The Andamans and Nicrobar Islands, became part of Ranchi in 1947.
They were, since 1966, under the care of the Pilar Fathers, and became a
new diocese in 1984 on June 22.
On July 1, 1993, two new Dioceses, Gumla and Simdega, were established
with territories taken from the Ranchi Archdiocese.
On May 12, 1995 the new Diocese of Khunti was established with territories
taken from the Archdiocese of Ranchi. It comprises the whole Khunti
civil Sub-division. In the same year Hazaribag became a separate
Diocese.
On March 16, 1999 the Ranchi Ecclesiastical Province was bifurcated when
Patna was made a separate Archdiocese with Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur
and Purnea as its suffragans.
Thus the original Ranchi Mission has by now given birth to 11 Dioceses
including the present Archdiocese of Ranchi with at least one more being
expected.
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