| |
MOST REV. TELESPHORE P. TOPPO,
D.D.
ARCHBISHOP OF RANCHI
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Tribe
Parents' name
Religion
Studies
Ordained priest
First posting
Elected Bishop of Dumka
Motto
Consecrated Bishop
Transfer to Ranchi as
Promoted to
Installation
Residence
Telephone
Telefax
Mobile
E-mail
Languages
Foreign visits
Memorable events
|
October 15,1939
Jhargaon, Dist. Gumla, Jharkhand.
Kuruk (Oraon)
Ambrose Toppo and Sophia Xalxo
Catholic Christian Sarna
Lower Primary Village School in Jhargaon
Upper Primary School in Barwaynagar
Lievens Barway Boys' Secondary School, Chainpur
St. Xavier's College, Ranchi - I.A
St. Albert's College, Ranchi (Regional Major Seminary)-Dip.Sac.
St. Xavier's College, Ranchi - B.A.
Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome, Italy - STL
Ranchi University, Ranchi - M.A.
May 3, 1969 at Himmelried in Switzerland.
St. Joseph's High School, Torpa, Dt. Ranchi.
June 8, 1978
Prepare the way of the Lord.
October 7, 1978 at Dudhani, Dumka
Archbishop Coadjutor on November 8, 1984.
Archbishop of Ranchi on August 7, 1985
On August 25, 1985
Archbishop's House, Purulia Road, Ranchi-834 001.
(0651)-30 48 44(O)/20 16 84(P)/20 47 28®
0091-651-30 48 44
98101-31552
rca@vitalmail.com; telestoppo@rediffmail.com;
telestoppo@yahoo.com
Kurukh, Sadri, Hindi, English, Latin, Santhali, Italian, German.
Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenia, Luxembourg,
Malta, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Spain,
Sri Lanka, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand.
- Centenary Celebration of the arrival of Fr.Lievens(1985)
- Pope John Paul II's Visit to Ranchi (1986)
- Visits to Ranchi by Cardinal Tomko (1996), Cardinal Arinze (1998),
and by Apostolic Nuncios Cacciavillan (1985), George Zur
(1993,1997), Baldisseri (2000), and by Mother Teresa (1994).
- Return of the Mortal Remains of Fr. Constant Lievens, the Apostle
of Chotanagpur (1993).
- Consecration of the new Shrine of Our Lady at Ulhatu (1995)
- Centenary Celebration of the Daughters of St. Anne (1997)
- Jesu Krist Jayanti 2000 Adivasi Assembly (2000) at Ranchi
- Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Ranchi Diocese (2002)
- Creation of the diocese of Gumla (1993), Simdega (1993), Khunti
(1995).
- Creation of the separate Ecclesiastical Province of Patna (1999)
in anticipation of the bifurcation of Bihar and creation of
Jharkhand 15.11.2000.
- Centenary Celebration of the arrival of the Ursuline Sisters
(2002-03). |
Outstanding Religious and Social Work done in Jharkhand
- Lievens Vocation Centre, Torpa.
- Social Development Centre, Dudhani, Dumka.
- The Catholic Civil Services Coaching Centre, Ranchi
- Childrens' Sponsorship Project, Ranchi.
- Hira Barway Dispensary, Chainpur.
- Social Development Centre, Purulia Road, Ranchi.
- Ragpickers' Education and Development (READ).
- The Kurkuria Project: The Good Samaritan Hospital and Lepers
Rehabilitation Centre.
- Ranchi rickshaw pullers association.
- The Archdiocesan Consortium for Development Solidarity.
- Official introduction of the Cause for the Beatification of the Apostle of
Chotanagpur.
- The Ranchi Catholic Archdiocesan Education Board.
- Introduction of Dharma Bharati in Ranchi.
- The Gram Guru Education Society, Ranchi.
- The Archdiocesan Vocation Centre, Hulhundu.
- The Lievens Academy, Lohardaga.
- The Daughters of St. Anne are granted "pontifical right" status.
- The Jharkhand Bishops & Major Superiors Forum.
- De-addiction & Rehabilitation Centre, Mandar.
- The Jharkhand Antyodaya Public Charitable Trust.
- Consecration of 10 Bishops: (9 of whom are Adivasis)
- Installation of the first Archbishop of Patna.
- Renovation of Ranchi Cathedral.
Award Received
Jharkhand Ratan, awarded by Lok Sewa Samity, Ranchi, to a
"Distinguished Son of the Soil of Jharkhand and" (2002).
Offices held
- Member of four World Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops
(1990, 1998, 1999, 2001).
- Member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue.
- Member of the Bishops Friends of the Focalare Movement.
- Member of the Central Committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops
Conferences.
- Chairman of the Office of Peace and Harmony of the FABC (2 terms).
- Vice-president of the CCBI (Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (2
terms)
- President of the CCBI (Conference of Catholic Bishops of India)
- Member of the Advisory Council of the Margareta Weisser Foundation for
Indigenous Tribal Peoples in Asia.
- Member of the Governing Body of the Indo-German Social Service Society,
New Delhi (for 2 terms, representing the CBCI).
- Member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India's Special Commission
for Evangelization.
- Member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India's Commission for
Inter-religious Dialogue.
- Member of the National Education Group (for several years).
- Chairman of the Regional Bishops' Council, and Chancellor of the Faculty
of Theology, Ranchi.
- Chairman, Jharkhand Bishops and Major Superiors Forum.
- Member of the Governing Body of (1) Vikas Maitri, Ranchi, (2)
St. Xavier's College, Ranchi. (3) Nirmala College, Hinoo,
(4) Ursuline B.Ed. College, Lohardaga.
- President of Chotanagpur Catholic Mission Co-operative Credit Society.
- President, Catholic Charities, Ranchi.
- Patron of Sarva Dharma Milan Parishad, Ranchi.
- Patron of Citizens Forum, Ranchi.
- Managing Trustee of Jharkhand Antyodaya Public Charitable Trust.
Characteristic Traits
(as noted by six different observers)
- Conscientious in his duties as Metropolitan Archbishop of
Ranchi, the primatial see of Jharkhand.
- A genuine and typical Kurukh (=Oraon) Tribal.
- Intelligent, able to comprehend and express, good speaker.
- Carries himself with dignity.
- Ability to listen patiently, open, understanding.
- Assertive, fearless, courageous, persuasive, confident.
- Inner moral strength.
- A man of vision.
- A man of deep faith, piety, commitment, prayer, trust in divine
providence.
- A man with a mission.
- Trusts others fully, loving brotherly, kind.
- Exuding optimism, free from worry.
- Generous, grateful.
- Hospitable, approachable, sociable, charitable, consoling.
- Leadership quality, dynamism, enthusiasm.
- Simple, honest, reliable, impartial, accountable, trustworthy.
- Hard working, helpful and serviceable: "what can I do for you?"
- Sensitive, caring, cheerful, respectful, friendly.
- Pro-mass media.
- Spirituality of communion.
|
|