Ranchi (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vincent Aind, Archbishop
Felix Toppo, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 19 September 1953
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 5,299 (2,046 Square Miles)
Description: Ranchi and Lohardaga
Official Web Site: https://www.ranchiarchdiocese.com
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 5, Dr. Camil Bulcke Path, Ranchi-834001, Jharkhand, India
Telephone: (0651)297.07.28

Historical Details

Diocese of Ranchi
- Latin Name: Ranchiensis
- Erected: 25 May 1927
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Calcutta
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Louis Van Hoeck, S.J. † (15 Feb 1928 Appointed - 30 Apr 1933 Died)
Oscar Sevrin, S.J. † (9 Apr 1934 Appointed - 13 Dec 1951 Appointed, Bishop of Raigarh-Ambikapur)
Niclas Kujur, S.J. † (13 Dec 1951 Appointed - 25 Jul 1960 Died)
Pius Kerketta, S.J. † (7 Mar 1961 Appointed - 7 Aug 1985 Retired)
Telesphore Placidus Toppo † (7 Aug 1985 Succeeded - 24 Jun 2018 Retired)
Felix Toppo, S.J. (24 Jun 2018 Appointed - 30 Dec 2023 Retired)
Vincent Aind (30 Dec 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Ranchi
25 May 1927	Erected	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Hazaribagh, Banchi, Palamau, and Singbhum, along with feudal states of Gangpur-Bamra-Donai in the region of Orissa, from Saraihela and Kharsawan in the territory of Chota Nagpur, and also from GhangJchakhar Korea, Sirguja, Jashpur, Udaipur, Sakti, ...)	Diocese of Ranchi (erected)
14 June 1951	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Rairakhol, Athmalik, Angul, Pallahara, Talcher, Hindol, and Dhenkanal along with part of Sambalpur and Sonpur) Diocese of Nagpur (Patna and part of Sambalpur and Sonpur) Diocese of Ranchi (Gangpur, Bonai, and Bamra)	Diocese of Sambalpur (erected)
13 December 1951	Territory Lost	Diocese of Nagpur (Rest of Raigarh) Diocese of Ranchi (Surguia and most of Raigarh)	Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur (erected)
Archdiocese of Ranchi
19 September 1953	Elevated	Diocese of Ranchi	Archdiocese of Ranchi
2 July 1962	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Calcutta (Dhanbad, Purulia, and Eastern half of Singbhum) Archdiocese of Ranchi (Western half of Singbhum)	Diocese of Jamshedpur (erected)
11 January 1966	Territory Added	Diocese of Jamshedpur (Anandpur and Bandgaon)	Archdiocese of Ranchi
5 June 1971	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Ranchi (Hazaribagh and Palamau)	Diocese of Daltonganj (erected)
22 June 1984	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Ranchi (Andamans and Nicobar Islands)	Diocese of Port Blair (erected)
28 May 1993	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Ranchi (Gumla)	Diocese of Gumla (erected)
28 May 1993	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Ranchi (Simdega in Gumla)	Diocese of Simdega (erected)
1 April 1995	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Ranchi (Khunti and Torpa)	Diocese of Khunti (erected)

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 Ranchi

1949 346,578 7,950,000 4.4% 48 124 172 2,014 124 234 50 ap1951

Archdiocese of Ranchi

1969 326,044 6,944,775 4.7% 81 179 260 1,254 385 628 62 ap1971

1980 344,904 3,215,000 10.7% 90 180 270 1,277 438 862 66 ap1981

1990 411,909 3,193,000 12.9% 166 218 384 1,072 369 834 93 ap1991

1999 107,852 1,872,324 5.8% 35 120 155 695 244 576 28 ap2000

2000 110,921 1,872,324 5.9% 35 143 178 623 306 565 28 ap2001

2001 113,645 2,454,044 4.6% 42 134 176 645 254 593 28 ap2002

2002 114,683 2,517,372 4.6% 42 128 170 674 219 714 30 ap2003

2003 115,201 2,796,892 4.1% 51 132 183 629 257 688 30 ap2004

2004 116,758 2,863,996 4.1% 45 129 174 671 254 724 31 ap2005

2010 132,767 3,032,496 4.4% 60 197 257 516 286 915 33 ap2011

2014 3,197,000 .0% 65 224 289 0 409 1,127 34 ap2015*

2017 162,368 3,618,032 4.5% 72 204 276 588 352 1,017 34 ap2018

2020 163,187 3,509,628 4.6% 87 200 287 568 318 1,024 34 ap2021

2022 177,189 3,703,427 4.8% 75 202 277 639 298 1,097 35 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Ranchi
1949	346,578	7,950,000	4.4%	48	124	172	2,014	124	234	50	ap1951
Archdiocese of Ranchi
1969	326,044	6,944,775	4.7%	81	179	260	1,254	385	628	62	ap1971
1980	344,904	3,215,000	10.7%	90	180	270	1,277	438	862	66	ap1981
1990	411,909	3,193,000	12.9%	166	218	384	1,072	369	834	93	ap1991
1999	107,852	1,872,324	5.8%	35	120	155	695	244	576	28	ap2000
2000	110,921	1,872,324	5.9%	35	143	178	623	306	565	28	ap2001
2001	113,645	2,454,044	4.6%	42	134	176	645	254	593	28	ap2002
2002	114,683	2,517,372	4.6%	42	128	170	674	219	714	30	ap2003
2003	115,201	2,796,892	4.1%	51	132	183	629	257	688	30	ap2004
2004	116,758	2,863,996	4.1%	45	129	174	671	254	724	31	ap2005
2010	132,767	3,032,496	4.4%	60	197	257	516	286	915	33	ap2011
2014		3,197,000	.0%	65	224	289	0	409	1,127	34	ap2015*
2017	162,368	3,618,032	4.5%	72	204	276	588	352	1,017	34	ap2018
2020	163,187	3,509,628	4.6%	87	200	287	568	318	1,024	34	ap2021
2022	177,189	3,703,427	4.8%	75	202	277	639	298	1,097	35	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Vincent Aind (Archbishop: 30 Dec 2023 - )
Vincent Barwa (Auxiliary Bishop: 29 Sep 2004 to 11 Feb 2008)
Telesphore Bilung, S.V.D. (Auxiliary Bishop: 6 May 2014 to 1 Nov 2021)
Linus Pingal Ekka
Anand Jojo (Priest: 24 Apr 1992 to 28 May 1993)
Binay Kandulna (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Feb 2009 to 30 Nov 2012)
Theodore Mascarenhas, S.F.X. (Auxiliary Bishop: 9 Jul 2014 to 30 Nov 2023)
Felix Toppo, S.J. (Archbishop: 24 Jun 2018 to 30 Dec 2023)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Pius Kerketta, S.J. † (Archbishop: 7 Mar 1961 to 7 Aug 1985)
Niclas Kujur, S.J. † (Bishop: 13 Dec 1951; Archbishop: 19 Sep 1953 to 25 Jul 1960)
Paul Alois Lakra † (Priest: 6 May 1988 to 28 May 1993)
Oscar Sevrin, S.J. † (Bishop: 9 Apr 1934 to 13 Dec 1951)
Telesphore Placidus Toppo † (Priest: 3 May 1969 to 8 Jun 1978; Coadjutor Archbishop: 8 Nov 1984; Archbishop: 7 Aug 1985 to 24 Jun 2018)
Louis Van Hoeck, S.J. † (Bishop: 15 Feb 1928 to 30 Apr 1933)

Source(s)

Diocese of Ranchi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 375, and Page 376
Archdiocese of Ranchi
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 83, to Page 87
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 242

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Archdiocese of Ranchi

Archidioecesis Ranchiensis