Krishnagar (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Nirmol Vincent Gomes, S.D.B., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 1887
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Calcutta
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 8,640 (3,337 Square Miles)
Description: Civil districts of Naida and Murshidabad
Official Blog: https://krishnagardiocese.blogspot.com
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Don Bosco Road, P.O. Krishnanagar-741101, Nadia Dt., West Bengal, India
Telephone: (03472)252.554; 252.664
Fax: 252.664

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Central Bengal
- Erected: 19 July 1870
- Country: India
Diocese of Central Bengal
- Elevated: 1 September 1886
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antonio Marietti, P.I.M.E. † (Aug 1870 Appointed - 1878 Resigned)
Francesco Pozzi, P.I.M.E. † ( 1878 Appointed - 23 Oct 1905 Died)
Santino Taveggia, P.I.M.E. † (23 Aug 1906 Appointed - 18 Jun 1927 Appointed, Bishop of Dinajpur)
Stephen Ferrando, S.D.B. † (9 Jul 1934 Appointed - 26 Nov 1935 Appointed, Bishop of Shillong)
Louis La Ravoire Morrow, S.D.B. † (25 May 1939 Appointed - 31 Oct 1969 Retired)
Matthew Baroi, S.D.B. † (17 Sep 1973 Appointed - 4 Apr 1983 Died)
Lucas Sirkar, S.D.B. † (22 Jun 1984 Appointed - 14 Apr 2000 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Calcutta)
Joseph Suren Gomes, S.D.B. † (17 Apr 2002 Appointed - 17 Apr 2019 Retired)
Nirmol Vincent Gomes, S.D.B. (30 Apr 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Central Bengal
19 July 1870	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Bengal	Prefecture Apostolic of Central Bengal (erected)
Diocese of Central Bengal
1 September 1886	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Central Bengal	Diocese of Central Bengal
Diocese of Krishnagar
1887	Name Changed	Diocese of Central Bengal	Diocese of Krishnagar
13 December 1889	Territory Lost	Diocese of Krishnagar	Prefecture Apostolic of Assam (erected)
25 May 1927	Territory Lost	Diocese of Krishnagar (Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Maida, Bogra, Rangpur, Jalpaguri, and CooTc-Beliar)	Diocese of Dinajpur (erected)
18 July 1928	Territory Added		Diocese of Chittagong (Gopalganj and Kohualipara) Diocese of Krishnagar (Kasiani and Muksudpur)
3 January 1952	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Area in Pakistan) Diocese of Krishnagar (Jessore, Kulna, Faridpur, Kustea, and Meherpur and Chuadanga (in Nadia))	Diocese of Jessore (erected)
22 November 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Krishnagar (Bagdaha, Bangaon, and Gaighata of the 24 Parganas District)	Archdiocese of Calcutta

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

Diocese of Krishnagar

1950 7,763 7,957,675 .1% 20 20 388 28 45 6 ap1951

1970 14,885 4,397,012 .3% 26 26 572 41 226 9 ap1971

1980 21,850 4,872,000 .4% 3 31 34 642 48 227 11 ap1981

1990 35,594 6,788,000 .5% 8 27 35 1,016 1 42 275 12 ap1991

1999 56,000 7,400,000 .8% 14 27 41 1,365 1 42 322 13 ap2000

2000 56,190 7,358,890 .8% 12 28 40 1,404 43 335 13 ap2001

2001 59,345 7,358,890 .8% 21 26 47 1,262 1 43 303 13 ap2002

2002 59,975 7,360,680 .8% 25 20 45 1,332 1 51 310 14 ap2003

2003 60,045 7,431,480 .8% 25 20 45 1,334 1 41 324 14 ap2004

2004 60,158 10,561,058 .6% 22 28 50 1,203 1 42 328 14 ap2005

2013 62,828 11,152,000 .6% 38 38 76 826 63 466 22 ap2014

2016 64,906 11,591,600 .6% 38 31 69 940 48 521 20 ap2017

2019 64,906 12,271,407 .5% 45 47 92 705 62 521 20 ap2020

2021 66,800 12,491,510 .5% 43 54 97 688 74 250 21 ap2022

2023 67,000 13,199,000 .5% 43 31 74 905 38 251 21 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Krishnagar
1950	7,763	7,957,675	.1%		20	20	388		28	45	6	ap1951
1970	14,885	4,397,012	.3%		26	26	572		41	226	9	ap1971
1980	21,850	4,872,000	.4%	3	31	34	642		48	227	11	ap1981
1990	35,594	6,788,000	.5%	8	27	35	1,016	1	42	275	12	ap1991
1999	56,000	7,400,000	.8%	14	27	41	1,365	1	42	322	13	ap2000
2000	56,190	7,358,890	.8%	12	28	40	1,404		43	335	13	ap2001
2001	59,345	7,358,890	.8%	21	26	47	1,262	1	43	303	13	ap2002
2002	59,975	7,360,680	.8%	25	20	45	1,332	1	51	310	14	ap2003
2003	60,045	7,431,480	.8%	25	20	45	1,334	1	41	324	14	ap2004
2004	60,158	10,561,058	.6%	22	28	50	1,203	1	42	328	14	ap2005
2013	62,828	11,152,000	.6%	38	38	76	826		63	466	22	ap2014
2016	64,906	11,591,600	.6%	38	31	69	940		48	521	20	ap2017
2019	64,906	12,271,407	.5%	45	47	92	705		62	521	20	ap2020
2021	66,800	12,491,510	.5%	43	54	97	688		74	250	21	ap2022
2023	67,000	13,199,000	.5%	43	31	74	905		38	251	21	ap2024