Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur is a diocese located in the city of Bhagalpur in the Ecclesiastical province of Patna in India.

History

Christian presence from 1779 has been documented. The early Christians were mainly indigo planters, railwaymen and their dependents. They did have a few handful of natives.
During the Capuchin Period, Bhagalpur was at first the part of Prefecture of Tibet-Hindustan erected by the Sacred Congregation of the Evangelisation of the Peoples in 1703. It became a resident station in 1783.
The Jesuit Period : The Patna Jesuits started working here since 1921. Their missionary efforts were directed mainly among the Santhals.
On 3 August 1956, Bhagalpur was detached from the Patna Diocese and the Prefecture Apostic was established. Msgr. Urban McGarry tor, was appointed the Prefect Apostolic.
It was promoted as Diocese of Bhagalpur on 11 January 1965. Most Rev Urban Eugene McGarry tor was appointed as its first Bishop. The diocese comprised the districts of Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui and the civil blocks of lakshmipur, Kharagpur and Tarapur of Mnger district of Bihar, Godda, Giridih, Deoghar and Sarawan of Deoghar district and Mandro block of Sahebgunj district of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand controversies

In July 2018, Sister Konsalia Balsa and charity worker Anima Indwar, who both served in the local Missionaries of Charity chapter, were arrested for selling a baby in Jharkland they put up for adoption through Missionaries of Charity for $1750 Catholic property in Jharkland falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Bhagalpur.
On September 10, 2019, Crux reported that Father Benoy John and catechist Munna Hansda were part of an effort to forcibly convert locals in Jharkhand and were arrested on charges of forced conversion on September 6, 2019. Father Arun Vincent was also suspected of working with John and Hansda, but was not formally arrested and later released. Both John and Hansda were also revealed to have illegally occupying land to

Leadership

This seminary at Bhagalpur, Sahibgunj is the training center for the first two years of priesthood. A hostel is attached to the seminary where students live. To the right is the hostel and to the left is the seminary.

Hospitals

There are 42 hospitals run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur.
Punaruthanam Ashram at Sahebgunj is working for the Psychiatric patients of Bhagalpur

Schools

There are more than 70 schools run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur. The most well known are St. Joseph's School - Bhagalpur, Mount Assisi School - Bhagalpur, Mount Carmel School - Bhagalpur, St. Joseph's School - Kahalgaon, St. Teresa School - Bhagalpur, C.M.S. School - Bhagalpur, St. Paul's School Bhagalpur.
The list of Schools is given here:
SchoolLocationPrincipal
Carmel SchoolGiridihM. Basil
Mount Carmel School BhagalpurCarmine Marie
Mount Assisi School Bhagalpur Augustine Kulapuram
Mount Assisi School, Ranitalab Bhagalpur Thomas Chittookalam
Saint Francis School Deoghar Deoghar John Kochuchira
St. Thomas School, Godda Godda Valson
St. Joseph's School, Jhajha Jamui Mathew A.C.
St. Joseph's School, Kabirpur BhagalpurVarghese Panangatt
St. Joseph's School, NTPC BhagalpurVincent Saldanha
St. Joseph's School, Pakarthalla BhagalpurAugustine Pereira
St. Francis Junior School, Jasidih Deoghar Sr. Caroline
St. Theresa's School Bhagalpur Sr. Scholastica
St. Theresa's School, Aliganj BhagalpurSr. Rosemeir
St. Joseph's School, Jagathpur BankaJoseph Thanniparampil

Hostels

List of Boys hostels run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur
HostelLocation
Sacred Heart Hostel, BabumahalBanka
Savio Hostel, BacchaSahebganj
St. Joseph's Hostel, BaromasiaGodda.
St. Paul's Hostel, BhaluaJamui
St. Patrick's Hostel, BasmataBanka.
St. Joseph's Hostel, BelatanrGiridih
Sacred Heart Hostel, ChakaiJamui
Prabhat Tara Hostel, ChandanahatGodda
St. Theresa's Hostel, CharkapatharBanka.
St. Joseph's Hostel, ChirkeeGiridih.
St. Joseph's Hostel, DakaitaGodda.
St. Joseph's Hostel, ChirkeeGiridih.
Boys Hostel, DambruhatGodda
St. Mary's Hostel, KhorimahuaGiridih
St. Thomas's Hostel, DulabithaGiridih
St. Jude's Hostel, DumariaBanka.
Vianney Hostel, Giridih.Giridih
Cannel English Medium School HostelGiridih.
Carmel Hindi Medium School HostelGiridih
St. Mary's Hostel, AgiamurGodda
Krist Raja HostelGodda
St. Stanislaus Hostel, GokhlaBhagalpur
Prabhat Tara Hostel, HarimohraBanka
Jhajha-Arunoday Hostel, JhajhaJamui.
St. Xavier's Hostel, KharagpurMunger.
St. Joseph's Hostel, LeelaSahebganj
St. John Britto H.S.Hostel, MaheshmundaGiridih
St. John Britto M.S.Hostel, MaheshmundaGiridih
Infant Jesus Hostel, MangraGodda.
Mission Hostel, ManikbathanGodda
St. Daniel's Hostel, MariampahariJamui
St. Francis H. S. Hostel, PoreyahatGodda
St. Francis M. S. Hostel, PoreyahatGodda
St. Anthony's Hostel, PhulbariaGodda
Pushpa Hostel, SokhoJamui
St. Thomas Hostel, SundermurGodda
St. Paul's Hostel, ThillaiyaGiridih
St. Anthony's Hostel, TilkimaronGiridih
Little Flower Hostel, KusumbaGodda.
St. Mary's Hostel, TisriGiridih.

List of Girls hostels run by the Diocese of Bhagalpur
HostelLocation
St. Mary's Hostel, AgiamurGodda
Savio Hostel, BacchaSahebganj.
St. Joseph's Hostel, BaromasiaGodda.
St. Paul's Hostel, BhaluaJamui
St. Patrick's Hostel, BhaluaJamui.
St. Patricks's Hostel, BasmataBanka.
Holy Cross Hostel, BelatanrGiridih.
Sacred Heart Hostel, ChakaiJamui
Holy Cross Hostel, ChandnahatGodda.
Holy Family Hostel, CharkapatharBanka
St. Joseph's Hostel, ChirkyDt.Giridih
St. Joseph's Hostel, DakaitaGodda
St. Joseph's Hostel, DambruhatGodda.
Maria Hostel, KhorimahuaGiridih
Holy Cross Hostel, DulabithaGiridih.
St. Jude's Hostel, DumariaBanka
St. Michael's H. S. Hostel, GokhlaBhagalpur
Nirmala H. S. Hostel, HarimohraBanka
St. Francis Hostel, KathibariGodda
Xavier Hostel, KharagpurMunger.
St. Joseph's Hostel, LeelaSahebganj.
Krist Raja Hostel, Godda.Godda
St. Michael's M. S. Hostel, GokhlaBhagalpur.
Holy Family Hostel, MangraGodda
Holy Family Hostel, MariampahariJamui
Holy Family Hostel, PoreyahatGodda.
St. Anthony's Hostel, PhulbariaGodda
Pushpa Hostel, SokhoJamui.
St. Thomas's Hostel, SundermurGodda.
St. Paul's Hostel, ThillaiyaGiridih.
St. Mary's Hostel, TisriGiridih
Little Flower Hostel, KusumbaGodda

Social Initiatives

The Diocese of Bhagalpur has been involved in helping people around Bhagalpur in all the districts that it operates. They provide flood relief material and are able to mobilize resources and money for the charity work during local disasters
The Diocese of Bhagalpur has attempted to bring good understanding between various religions. All schools of the Diocese cater to every religion and sect. There is special provision for the needy in most of the schools.

Dialogue Between Religious leaders

Dialogues between religious leaders are often conducted by the Diocese.