Dhaka (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Paulinus Costa, Archbishop
Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 19 October 1982
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Bangladesh
Square Kilometers: 26,788 (10,346 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 3, 1 Kakrail Road, Ramna, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Telephone: (02)935.82.47; 835.18.71

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal
- Erected: 1850
- Country: India
Diocese of Eastern Bengal
- Elevated: 1 September 1886
- Country: India
Diocese of Dacca
- Latin Name: Dacchensis
- Name Changed: 1887
- Country: Bangladesh
Archdiocese of Dacca
- Latin Name: Dacchensis
- Elevated: 15 July 1950
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Bangladesh

Past and Present Ordinaries

Peter Dufal, C.S.C. † (3 Jul 1860 Appointed - 25 Aug 1866 Appointed, Superior General of Congregation of Holy Cross)
Giordano Balsiper (Bellsieper), O.S.B. † (4 Feb 1878 Appointed - )
Augustin Louage, C.S.C. † ( 1890 Appointed - 8 Jun 1894 Died)
Peter Joseph Hurth, C.S.C. † (26 Jun 1894 Appointed - 15 Feb 1909 Resigned)
Frederick Linneborn, C.S.C. † (13 Feb 1909 Appointed - 21 Jul 1915 Died)
Amand-Théophile-Joseph Legrand, C.S.C. † (16 Aug 1916 Appointed - 9 Nov 1929 Retired)
Timothy Joseph Crowley, C.S.C. † (9 Nov 1929 Succeeded - 2 Oct 1945 Died)
Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C. † (13 Feb 1947 Appointed - 23 Nov 1967 Resigned)
Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C. † (23 Nov 1967 Succeeded - 2 Sep 1977 Died)
Michael Rozario † (17 Dec 1977 Appointed - 9 Jul 2005 Retired)
Paulinus Costa (9 Jul 2005 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal
1850	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bengal	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (erected)
Diocese of Eastern Bengal
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal	Diocese of Eastern Bengal
Diocese of Dacca
1887	Name Changed	Diocese of Eastern Bengal	Diocese of Dacca
25 May 1927	Territory Lost	Diocese of Dacca	Diocese of Chittagong (erected)
Archdiocese of Dacca
15 July 1950	Elevated	Diocese of Dacca	Archdiocese of Dacca
17 January 1952	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Dacca	Prefecture Apostolic of Haflong (erected)
Archdiocese of Dhaka
19 October 1982	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Dacca	Archdiocese of Dhaka

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Dacca

1950 35,378 18,200,000 .2% 24 38 62 570 21 105 22 ap1951

1970 63,309 25,000,000 .3% 24 33 57 1,110 63 221 26 ap1971

1980 81,169 30,706,000 .3% 26 29 55 1,475 1 66 226 26 ap1981

Archdiocese of Dhaka

1990 56,932 26,347,000 .2% 35 38 73 779 101 360 28 ap1991

1999 68,629 30,148,790 .2% 34 40 74 927 106 563 19 ap2000

2000 70,821 30,157,061 .2% 42 53 95 745 134 573 19 ap2001

2001 70,060 30,170,665 .2% 38 53 91 769 126 498 19 ap2002

2002 66,785 30,258,660 .2% 31 52 83 804 132 508 19 ap2003

2003 73,508 30,563,833 .2% 33 57 90 816 110 526 20 ap2004

2004 74,871 30,574,441 .2% 33 59 92 813 110 544 20 ap2005

2006 79,008 30,581,248 .3% 44 64 108 731 126 562 20 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Dacca
1950	35,378	18,200,000	.2%	24	38	62	570		21	105	22	ap1951
1970	63,309	25,000,000	.3%	24	33	57	1,110		63	221	26	ap1971
1980	81,169	30,706,000	.3%	26	29	55	1,475	1	66	226	26	ap1981
Archdiocese of Dhaka
1990	56,932	26,347,000	.2%	35	38	73	779		101	360	28	ap1991
1999	68,629	30,148,790	.2%	34	40	74	927		106	563	19	ap2000
2000	70,821	30,157,061	.2%	42	53	95	745		134	573	19	ap2001
2001	70,060	30,170,665	.2%	38	53	91	769		126	498	19	ap2002
2002	66,785	30,258,660	.2%	31	52	83	804		132	508	19	ap2003
2003	73,508	30,563,833	.2%	33	57	90	816		110	526	20	ap2004
2004	74,871	30,574,441	.2%	33	59	92	813		110	544	20	ap2005
2006	79,008	30,581,248	.3%	44	64	108	731		126	562	20	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops

Giordano Balsiper (Bellsieper), O.S.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Feb 1878)
Paulinus Costa (Archbishop: 9 Jul 2005)
Timothy Joseph Crowley, C.S.C. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 26 Jan 1927; Bishop: 9 Nov 1929 to 2 Oct 1945)
Peter Dufal, C.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Jul 1860 to 25 Aug 1866)
Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Sep 1960; Coadjutor Archbishop: 6 Jul 1965; Archbishop: 23 Nov 1967 to 2 Sep 1977)
Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C. (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Feb 1996)
Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C. † (Bishop: 13 Feb 1947; Archbishop: 15 Jul 1950 to 23 Nov 1967)
Peter Joseph Hurth, C.S.C. † (Bishop: 26 Jun 1894 to 15 Feb 1909)
Amand-Théophile-Joseph Legrand, C.S.C. † (Bishop: 16 Aug 1916 to 9 Nov 1929)
Frederick Linneborn, C.S.C. † (Bishop: 13 Feb 1909 to 21 Jul 1915)
Augustin Louage, C.S.C. † (Bishop: 1890 to 8 Jun 1894)
Michael Rozario † (Archbishop: 17 Dec 1977 to 9 Jul 2005)

Archdiocese of Dhaka

Archidioecesis Dhakensis