Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese 

His Holiness  Late Pope John Paul II

Ranchi Visit

Land & People

Cardinal's Programme 

August 2005

September 05

Auxiliary Bishop's Programme

August 2005

September 05

Cardinal's Programme

July 2005

August 2005

Auxiliary Bishop's Programme

July 2005

August 2005

Mourning and Tributes

Day of mourning and tributes were observed by Catholics all over the world at the demise of Holy Father John Paul II.  On 7th April 2005 Ranchi Archdiocese kept the day of mourning.  All the Catholic Institutions were closed and a concelebrated Holy Mass was offered for the repose of the late Pope's soul in the Cathedral.  It was presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Barwa.

His Exce;;emcu Syed Sibtey Razi Governor of Jharkhand came to Archbishop's House Ranchi to express his deep heartfelt condolence to His Eminence Telesphore P. Card. Toppo, on the demise of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II.  In his words "His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, will always be remembered for his selfless service to the suffering mankind.  He was a pillar of strength for the millions of poor & downtrodden all over the world.  He traveled widely around the world to spread the message of peace and well being to one and all, without any discrimination.

He was one of the most eminent personalities of this century and his passing away marks the end of an era.

Although he is no more wioth us in this physical world, but I am sure his message of peace will always remain with us and will continue to guide us from 'darkness to light'.

Hearing the message of demise of Holy Father John Paul II His Eminence Cardinal P. Toppo cancelled all his programmes and left for Delhi on 3rd April 2005 and from there to Rome to participate in the funeral of the Pope in the Vatican and stayed over there for the conclave to elect the new Pope.  Finally Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger the personal adviser of late John Paul II, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and Prefect of Cardinals was elected as the new Pope on 19th April 2005.  As the New Pope he took the name Benedict 16th.

On 24th April His Eminence Cardinal P. Toppo flying back to India to attend the Caritas India, CBCI Standing Committee and some other meetings at Delhi.  On 30th April he will be coming back to Ranchi for a short time and on 1st May he will be going back to Delhi on his way to Fatima, Lisbon.  In the month of May His Eminence will be in Europe visiting his friends.  Only by the end of May he will be back to Ranchi.

Auxiliary Bishop's Programme

April, 2005

May, 2005

Letter from the Archbishop of Ranchi 
Addressed to all the Faithful in the Archdiocese

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

During the early days of this month of March 2005, Ranchi Archdiocese hosted the 17 Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. The Local Arrangements Organizing Committee, under the guidance of Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Barwa, devoted weeks of meticulous preparation for its success. Wide publicity was given to the event through the newspapers before and during its occurrence. On account of the prevailing political situation and "bandh" on March 3 some participants did have to face some inconvenience. But with the good will and cooperation of many everything came off well and peacefully, including the massive public reception on March 6.

1. I'd like to take this occasion to thank profusely all secular and religious persons and organizations who readily came forward to help. The result was highly appreciated by all the Bishops from all over India. It became clear to them that this local Church has come of age and is able to face responsibilities and to play a significant role in  the communion of Churches. Indeed God's blessing is upon us.

This Church is certainly God's own work. Already Fr. Lievens had to confess that he did not know or understand why people came to him in such large numbers and from such faraway places and what was the secret force behind their desire to meet Jesus and their urge to become one with him. May be even they themselves would not have been able to put into words the answer to the questions that were being asked even  by the then ecclesiastical authorities.

2. We have come a long way. Extra-ordinary progress has been made. But we must not rest on our laurels. However impressive our achievements may have been, we need to grow further, to move ahead, to open a new chapter, to concentrate on further improving the all round human and Christian quality-formation and value education of all in the community. "Fire must burn."

The expectation the Church in India has of us, is high indeed :- Constant Lievens' vision of a vibrant, well-knit, disciplined, united and self-reliant community, capable of reaching out to others, needs to be pursued:

-  all our organizations need to be further revitalized so that they may be able to      produce ample fruits.

  we need to turn our existing neighbourhoods, tolas, villages into lively basic Christian communities, taking responsibility for assisting and enabling the families involved;

-  we need to further improve the human-Christian qualities of our families, husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters and turn these  families into authentic domestic Churches, Families for Christ, where an attitude of genuine piety, dialogue, transparency, mutual readiness to serve will prevail;

-  in such environments we can hope for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Christ-centredness will lead many to offer themselves to carry on the mission and work of Jesus; vocations may well be considered the barometer of a community's faith-life.

3.  Dear Brothers and Sisters, the annual celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ commemorates the great mystery of the redemption of humankind, of the salvation of humanity. We are all personally involved in it. Allow me to take this occasion to invite every one's active spiritual participation, so that God our Saviour may touch and transform our mind, heart and life and make us holy as He is holy. May the love of God continue to burn within you and to enkindle others as well.