Archdiocese of Calcutta

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Bengal
  • Erected: 18 April 1834
  • Country: India

• Vicariate Apostolic of Western Bengal
  • Name Changed: 15 February 1850
  • Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Jean-Louis Taberd, M.E.P. † ( 1838 Appointed - 31 Jul 1840 Died)
• Patrick Joseph Carew † (30 Nov 1840 Appointed - 2 Nov 1855 Died)
• Thomas Olliffe † (2 Nov 1855 Succeeded - 13 May 1859 Died)
• Auguste Van Heule, S.J. † (9 Sep 1864 Appointed - 4 Jun 1865 Died)
• Walter Herman Jacobus Steins, S.J. † (11 Jan 1867 Appointed - 3 Dec 1877 Resigned)
• Paul François Marie Goethals, S.J. † (3 Dec 1877 Appointed - 4 Jul 1901 Died)
• Brice Meuleman, S.J. † (21 Mar 1902 Appointed - 23 Jun 1924 Resigned)
• Ferdinand Périer, S.J. † (23 Jun 1924 Succeeded - 12 Aug 1960 Retired)
• Vivian Anthony Dyer † (12 Aug 1960 Succeeded - 8 Feb 1962 Died)
• Albert Vincent D’Souza † (8 Aug 1962 Appointed - 29 May 1969 Resigned)
• Lawrence Trevor Picachy, S.J. † (29 May 1969 Appointed - 5 Apr 1986 Resigned)
• Henry Sebastian D’Souza † (5 Apr 1986 Succeeded - 2 Apr 2002 Retired)
• Lucas Sirkar, S.D.B. (2 Apr 2002 Succeeded - 23 Feb 2012 Retired)
• Thomas D’Souza (23 Feb 2012 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

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 Calcutta
1950	82,053	29,159,168	.3%	20	171	191	429		144	259	40	ap1951
1959	106,203	30,300,258	.4%	24	186	210	505		270	528	54	ap1960
1970	82,603	27,276,722	.3%	34	150	184	448		243	538	33	ap1971
1980	85,900	30,240,000	.3%	62	98	160	536		198	636	32	ap1981
1990	107,687	35,441,000	.3%	68	126	194	555		302	762	52	ap1991
1999	133,740	24,813,952	.5%	88	132	220	607		363	857	31	ap2000
2000	135,543	25,114,983	.5%	65	139	204	664		397	828	32	ap2001
2001	136,804	25,124,983	.5%	65	132	197	694		349	950	34	ap2002
2002	138,535	23,150,108	.6%	66	141	207	669		305	922	34	ap2003
2003	139,920	27,665,118	.5%	65	141	206	679	3	316	905	34	ap2004
2004	141,726	29,048,374	.5%	70	137	207	684		313	880	37	ap2005
2006	145,246	31,152,686	.5%	70	141	211	688		328	1,141	38	ap2007
2013	160,165	39,553,435	.4%	72	167	239	670		285	1,158	42	ap2014
2016	168,564	41,543,265	.4%	83	164	247	682		195	735	45	ap2017
2019	173,426	44,013,000	.4%	89	175	264	656		241	810	46	ap2020

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Shyamal Bose
• Thomas D’Souza (Coadjutor Archbishop: 12 Mar 2011; Archbishop: 23 Feb 2012)
• Salvadore Lobo (Priest: 19 Mar 1973 to 30 May 1977)
• Cyprian Monis (Auxiliary Bishop: 26 Mar 1994 to 24 Oct 1997)
• Lucas Sirkar, S.D.B. (Coadjutor Archbishop: 14 Apr 2000; Archbishop: 2 Apr 2002 to 23 Feb 2012)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Patrick Joseph Carew † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Nov 1840 to 2 Nov 1855)
• Alan Basil de Lastic † (Priest: 21 Dec 1958; Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Apr 1979 to 2 Jul 1984)
• Albert Vincent D’Souza † (Archbishop: 8 Aug 1962 to 29 May 1969)
• Henry Sebastian D’Souza † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 29 Mar 1985; Archbishop: 5 Apr 1986 to 2 Apr 2002)
• Vivian Anthony Dyer † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 25 Apr 1959; Archbishop: 12 Aug 1960 to 8 Feb 1962)
• Joseph Alexander Fernandes † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jan 1949 to 12 Apr 1951)
• Paul François Marie Goethals, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Dec 1877; Archbishop: 25 Nov 1886 to 4 Jul 1901)
• Brice Meuleman, S.J. † (Archbishop: 21 Mar 1902 to 23 Jun 1924)
• Thomas Olliffe † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 26 Aug 1843; Vicar Apostolic: 2 Nov 1855 to 13 May 1859)
• Ferdinand Périer, S.J. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 10 Aug 1921; Archbishop: 23 Jun 1924 to 12 Aug 1960)
• Lawrence Trevor Picachy, S.J. † (Archbishop: 29 May 1969 to 5 Apr 1986)
• Walter Herman Jacobus Steins, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Jan 1867 to 3 Dec 1877)
• Jean-Louis Taberd, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1838 to 31 Jul 1840)
• Auguste Van Heule, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Sep 1864 to 4 Jun 1865)