Mohamedmeerafazil1989 at 14:21, 29 April 2026

2026-04-29T14:21:36Z

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{{Short description|Latin Catholic archdiocese in India}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox diocese
|jurisdiction = Archdiocese
|name = Patna
|latin = Archidioecesis Patnensis
|country = [[India]]
|province = Patna
|cathedral = Queen of Apostles Cathedral in [[Patna]]
|cocathedral = Pro-Cathedral of St Joseph in [[Patna]]
|patron = [[Saint Joseph]]
|established = 10 September 1919
|denomination = [[Catholic Church]]
|sui_iuris_church = [[Latin Church]]
|rite = [[Roman Rite]]
|parishes =
|area_km2 = 28,808
|population = 24,709,333
|population_as_of = 2005
|catholics = 54,120
|catholics_percent= 0.2
|pope = {{Incumbent pope}}
|metro_archbishop = Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura <ref>{{cite web | url=https://catholicconnect.in/news/priests-in-bihar-region-renew-spiritual-zeal-at-cdpi-gathering | title=Priests in Bihar Region Renew Spiritual Zeal at CDPI Gathering (Catholic Connect website) | date=19 October 2025 }}</ref>

|coadjutor =
|auxiliary_bishops=
|emeritus_bishops =
|vicar_general =
|website =
}}

The '''Archdiocese of Patna''' ({{langx|la|Patnen(sis)}}) is a [[Latin Church]] ecclesiastical jurisdiction or [[archdiocese]] of the [[Catholic Church]] in India. Its [[episcopal see]] is [[Patna]], in the state of [[Bihar]]. A [[Metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolitan see]], the archdiocese has five [[suffragan]] dioceses in its [[ecclesiastical province]].

==History==

The first Catholic missionary to the state of Bihar was the Jesuit priest Simon Figueredo SJ, who arrived in Patna in 1620 at the invitation of the Mughal Governor, Yohan Maquarrum Khan.<ref name=NNO1>{{cite web |url= https://newsnetone.com/2018/07/catholics-a-part-of-bihar-for-over-300-years/ |title= Catholics: a part of Bihar for over 300 years |author= |date= July 25, 2018 |website= News Net One |publisher= |access-date= 10 March 2026 |quote=}}</ref>

The Congregation for the Propagation of Faith erected the Prefecture of Tibet - Hindustan in 1703 and entrusted it to the Capuchin Fathers of the Italian Province of Picenum in the Marches of Ancona.<ref name=UCAN1>{{cite web |url= https://www.ucanews.com/directory/dioceses/india-patna/25 |title= UCAN News |author= |date= |website= Archdiocese of Patna |publisher= |access-date= 10 March 2026 |quote=}}</ref> The first group of fathers reached [[Lhasa]] (Tibet) in 1707 and began Church work there.<ref name=NNO1 /> For nearly 41 years, the Capuchin Fathers worked in Lhasa until a religious persecution forced them to give up their mission and move to Kathmandu (Nepal) in 1745. They were then invited to Bettiah and founded a mission there.<ref name=NNO1 />

Nepal had seen the Capuchin Fathers working with varying success in Kathmandu since 1715. A new conqueror of Kathmandu valley, Raja Pritvi Narayan, who was not sympathetic to the Fathers stopped all support to them. The Mission of Nepal was also abandoned in 1769, and the Fathers with 62 Nepalese Christians and five catechumens moved to India.<ref name=UCAN1 /> The Nepalese Christians and catechumens settled down at Chuhari near [[Bettiah]]. The scene of the capuchin Mission shifted now to the Indian soil. Fr Joseph Mary OFM cap, a saintly priest, founded the Bettiah Mission in 1745 after the King of Bettiah, Raja Druva Singh had obtained permission from Pope Benedict XIV.

Rome erected the Prefecture of Tibet-Hindustan into a Vicariate in 1812. In 1827 an Independent Patna Vicariate was created, comprising [[Bettiah]], [[Chuhari]], [[Patna City]], [[Dinapore]], [[Bhagalpur]], [[Darjeeling]], [[Sikkim]], [[Nepal]], and adjacent territories.<ref name=UCAN1 /> Anastasius Hartmann, was appointed its first Vicar Apostolic Bishop in 1845;<ref name=NNO1 /> a decree from Pope Leo XIII led to Patna becoming a part of [[Allahabad]] diocese in 1886. The North Bihar Mission with its four stations of Bettiah, Chuhari, [[Chakhani]] and [[Latonah]] was entrusted to the Tyrolese Capuchins in 1886. In May 1892 the North Bihar Mission became the Bettiah-Nepal Prefecture with Fr Hilarion of Abtei, OFM cap, as its first Prefect. In 1919 this Prefecture was dissolved and joined to South Bihar to form the present Diocese of Patna.<ref name=UCAN1 />

Pope Benedict XV by a Decree on 10 September 1919 divided the Diocese of Allahabad into two. The Diocese of Patna was thus created. The Prefecture of Bettiah-Nepal was annexed to the new diocese. The Holy See entrusted [[Patna]] diocese to American [[Missouri]] Province of the [[Society of Jesus]]. Later, on 13 November 1930, after the division of Missouri Province, Patna diocese was entrusted to the [[Chicago]] Province of the [[Society of Jesus]].<ref name=UCAN1 /> Louis Van Hoeck, a [[Belgium|Belgian]] Jesuit, was ordained the first Bishop of Patna on 6 March 1921. Bernard Sullivan SJ became the second Bishop of Patna (1929-1947), Augustine Wildermuth SJ was the third Bishop of Patna (1947-1980) and Benedict Osta SJ was the last bishop before Patna was elevated to an Archdiocese in 1999.<ref name=NNO1 />

The Third Order Regular (T.O.R.) Franciscan Fathers from [[Pennsylvania]], USA came to Patna diocese to assist the Jesuits in 1938. The mission stations of Bhagalpur, [[Gokhla]], [[Poreyahat]] and [[Godda]] were assigned to them. In 1956 Bhagalpur was made a Prefecture and in 1965 it was created a Diocese with Msgr [[Urban McGarry]], [[T.O.R.]], as its First Bishop.

The forbidden Kingdom of Nepal was once again open for Fathers in 1951, thanks to the efforts of Fr. [[Marshall D. Moran]], S.J. Nepal was made an independent ecclesiastical unit in 1984 and Fr. Antony Sharma, S.J. was appointed as its First Mission Superior.

On 28 March 1980, Pope John Paul II, accepted the resignation of Bishop [[Augustine Wildermuth]] S.J., and divided the Patna diocese into two units: [[Patna]] and [[Muzaffarpur]]. Fr Benedict J Osta S.J., was appointed Bishop of Patna.

In 1999, Patna was elevated to an Archdiocese and Bishop Benedict J Osta S.J., became the first Archbishop of Patna; on Osta’s retirement in 2007, Bishop [[William D'Souza]] SJ became the new Archbishop.<ref name=NNO1 /> On 9 December 2020 D’Souza's resignation was accepted by [[Pope Francis]], and auxiliary bishop [[Sebastian Kallupura]] was named as his successor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resignation and succession of metropolitan archbishop of Patna, India|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/12/09/201209b.html|date=9 December 2020|accessdate=9 December 2020|publisher=Vatican Press}}</ref> Bishop Sebastian Kallupura took on the post of Archbishop of Patna in December 2020.<ref name=UCAN3>[https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/archbishop-kallupura/924 UCANews website, ''Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura'', accessed 24 March 2026]</ref>

The Diocese of Patna comprises in the State of [[Bihar]], the Districts of Patna, [[Nalanda]], Nawadah, Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Jehanabad, Bhojpur, Bhabhua, Buxar and part of Munger.

==Special churches==
*[[Pro-Cathedral]]:
**[[St Joseph's Pro-Cathedral, Patna]]

==Leadership==
* Archbishops of Patna
** Coadjutor Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura (9 December 2020 - present) <ref name=UCAN3 /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://cnewsliveenglish.com/news/38795/patna-missionary-meet-charts-new-path-for-evangelization-and-social-outreach-tt | title=Patna Missionary meet charts new path for Evangelization and Social Outreach (C News Live website) | date=2 December 2025 }}</ref>
** [[William D'Souza|Archbishop William D’Souza, S.J.]] (1 October 2007 – 9 December 2020) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ccbi.in/bishop-sebastian-succeeds-as-patna-archbishop/ | title=Bishop Sebastian succeeds as Patna Archbishop | date=9 December 2020 }}</ref>
** Archbishop [[Benedict John Osta]], [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]] (76) (16 March 1999 – 1 October 2007)
* Bishops of Patna (Latn Rite)
** Bishop [[Benedict John Osta]], S.J. (76) (later Archbishop) (6 March 1980 – 16 March 1999)
** Bishop [[Augustine Francis Wildermuth]], S.J. (12 June 1947 – 6 March 1980)
** Bishop [[Bernard James Sullivan]], S.J. (15 January 1929 – 6 June 1946)
** Bishop [[Louis van Hoeck]], S.J. (20 July 1920 – 15 February 1928)
* Vicars Apostolic of Patna
** Bishop [[Francis Pesci]], [[O.F.M. Cap.]] (24 May 1881 – 1 September 1886)

==Suffragan dioceses==
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bettiah|Diocese of Bettiah]]
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bhagalpur|Diocese of Bhagalpur]]
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Buxar|Diocese of Buxar]]
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Muzaffarpur|Diocese of Muzaffarpur]]
* [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Purnea|Diocese of Purnea]]

==Saints and causes for canonisation==
* Ven. [[Anastasius Hartmann]], Apostolic Vicar of Patna<ref>{{cite web |title=Apostolic Nunciature, India & Nepal |url=https://www.apostolicnunciatureindia.com/DiocesesofIndiaDispFull.aspx?DID=303 |website=www.apostolicnunciatureindia.com |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://patnaarchdiocese.in Archdiocese of Patna website]
* [https://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/patn0.htm GCatholic.org] [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dpatn.html Catholic Hierarchy] [[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Patna}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in India]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1917]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christianity in Bihar]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Patna]]

Archdiocese of Patna - Revision history

Mohamedmeerafazil1989 at 14:21, 29 April 2026