Diocese of Purnea

Dioecesis Purneaensis

Bishop(s)

Francis Tirkey, Bishop
Angelus Kujur, S.J., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 27 June 1998
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Patna
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 15,733 (6,076 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Maharajaji Hata, P.O. Purnea-854301, Bihar, India
Telephone: (06454)242.848

Past and Present Ordinaries

Vincent Barwa (27 Jun 1998 Appointed - 29 Sep 2004 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi)
Angelus Kujur, S.J. (20 Jan 2007 Appointed - 8 Dec 2021 Retired)
Francis Tirkey (17 Feb 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
27 June 1998	Erected	Diocese of Dumka (Purnea, Katihar, Araria, and Kishanganj)	Diocese of Purnea (erected)
16 March 1999	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Purnea (from Ranchi)

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

1999 16,115 629,569 2.6% 42 4 46 350 8 51 9 ap2000

2000 17,524 629,569 2.8% 33 5 38 461 9 50 9 ap2001

2001 21,273 665,541 3.2% 36 5 41 518 9 51 12 ap2002

2002 22,253 8,326,843 .3% 36 5 41 542 9 51 12 ap2003

2003 23,823 8,626,501 .3% 33 5 38 626 9 51 14 ap2004

2004 24,391 8,349,215 .3% 32 5 37 659 9 53 14 ap2005

2010 25,480 8,902,000 .3% 36 10 46 553 15 77 16 ap2011

2013 25,774 9,269,000 .3% 39 9 48 536 15 87 16 ap2014

2014 25,839 9,389,000 .3% 41 9 50 516 13 90 16 ap2015

2016 25,945 9,634,000 .3% 43 13 56 463 17 81 16 ap2017

2019 26,580 9,982,760 .3% 45 15 60 443 20 91 17 ap2020

2021 30,475 10,198,890 .3% 42 15 57 534 20 93 17 ap2022

2023 30,900 10,343,000 .3% 41 13 54 572 19 92 17 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1999	16,115	629,569	2.6%	42	4	46	350	8	51	9	ap2000
2000	17,524	629,569	2.8%	33	5	38	461	9	50	9	ap2001
2001	21,273	665,541	3.2%	36	5	41	518	9	51	12	ap2002
2002	22,253	8,326,843	.3%	36	5	41	542	9	51	12	ap2003
2003	23,823	8,626,501	.3%	33	5	38	626	9	51	14	ap2004
2004	24,391	8,349,215	.3%	32	5	37	659	9	53	14	ap2005
2010	25,480	8,902,000	.3%	36	10	46	553	15	77	16	ap2011
2013	25,774	9,269,000	.3%	39	9	48	536	15	87	16	ap2014
2014	25,839	9,389,000	.3%	41	9	50	516	13	90	16	ap2015
2016	25,945	9,634,000	.3%	43	13	56	463	17	81	16	ap2017
2019	26,580	9,982,760	.3%	45	15	60	443	20	91	17	ap2020
2021	30,475	10,198,890	.3%	42	15	57	534	20	93	17	ap2022
2023	30,900	10,343,000	.3%	41	13	54	572	19	92	17	ap2024