Diocese of

Bhagalpur

India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bhagalpur / Bhagalpuren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Patna

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1956.08.03: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Bhagalpur / Bhagalpuren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Patna)
1965.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Bhagalpur / Bhagalpuren(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Calcutta)
1968: Became suffragan of Ranchi
1970.10.08: Gained territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ranchi and Diocese of Patna
1984: Gained territory from Diocese of Patna
1999.03.16: Became suffragan of Patna

Present Prelates

Bishop (2007.01.11 – ...):

Bishop Kurien Valiakandathil (72)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bhagalpur (Roman Rite)

Bishop Kurien Valiakandathil (72)
(2007.01.11 – ...)

Bishop of Bhagalpur (India)

To do good in all times

Born:	1952.11.18 (Elanjy, India)
Ordained Priest:	1977.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.02.27

Priest of Bhagalpur (India) (1977.10.28 – 2007.01.11)

Bishop of Bhagalpur (India) (2007.01.11 – ...)

Bishop Thomas Kozhimala
(1996.06.14 – 2005.06.01)

The Lord is my strength

Born:	1939.12.09 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1970.10.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.10.07
Died:	2005.06.01 († 65)

Bishop of Bhagalpur (India) (1996.06.14 – 2005.06.01)

Bishop George Victor Saupin, S.J.
(1987.11.30 – 1993.08.02)

Born:	1923.08.20 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1958.03.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1971.10.13
Died:	1993.08.02 († 69)

Bishop of Daltonganj (India) (1971.06.05 – 1987.11.30)

Bishop of Bhagalpur (India) (1987.11.30 – 1993.08.02)

Bishop Urban Eugen McGarry, T.O.R.
(1965.01.11 – 1987.11.30)

Born:	1910.11.12 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1942.10.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.05.10
Died:	2000.09.16 († 89)

Prefect Apostolic of Bhagalpur (India) (1956 – 1965.01.11)

Bishop of Bhagalpur (India) (1965.01.11 – 1987.11.30)

Prefects Apostolic of Bhagalpur (Roman Rite)

Fr. Urban Eugen McGarry, T.O.R. (later Bishop)
(1956 – 1965.01.11)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Bhagalpur, Bihār

Hazaribag (↙), Patna (←), Muzaffarpur (↖), Purnea (↗), Dumka (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 17,766 km²

Population: 107,916 Catholics (1.0% of 10,454,705 total)

Pastoral Centres: 88 parishes, 17 missions

Personnel: 147 priests (120 diocesan, 27 religious), 588 religious (67 brothers, 521 sisters), 37 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.03.17

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