Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Dhaka / Dacca (Italiano) / Dhaken(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Sylhet

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Immaculate Conception

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1850.02.15: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Bengal (from Apostolic Vicariate of Bengal)
1886.09.01: Promoted as Diocese of Eastern Bengal
1887.06.07: Became suffragan of Calcutta
1887: Renamed as Diocese of Dacca / Dacchen(sis) (Latin)
1889.12.13: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Assam
1927.05.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Chittagong
1929.07.03: Gained territory from Diocese of São Tomé de Meliapor
1950.07.15: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dacca / Dacchen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Chittagong and Dinajpur)
1952.01.03: Gained suffragan see Jessore
1952.01.17: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Haflong
1982.10.19: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka / Dacca (Italiano) / Dhaken(sis) (Latin)
1987.05.15: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mymensingh and gained suffragan see Mymensingh
1990.05.21: Gained suffragan see Rajshahi
2011.07.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Sylhet and gained suffragan see Sylhet
2015.12.29: Gained suffragan see Barisal
2017.02.02: Lost suffragan sees Barisal, Chittagong and Khulna

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2020.09.30 – ...):	Archbishop Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, O.M.I. (68) President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh
Auxiliary Bishop (2024.02.15 – ...):	Bishop Subroto Boniface Gomes (62) Titular Bishop of Tamazuca

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Dhaka (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, O.M.I. (68)
(2020.09.30 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh)
President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh

The peace of the Lord be with you

Born:	1956.02.09 (Tuital, Bangladesh)
Ordained Priest:	1987.02.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.05.06

Bishop of Khulna (Bangladesh) (2005.02.19 – 2011.07.08)

Bishop of Sylhet (Bangladesh) (2011.07.08 – 2020.09.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) (2020.09.30 – ...)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (2020.12 – ...)

Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C. (81)
(2011.10.22 – 2020.09.30)

Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Joy in communion

Born:	1943.10.01 (Padri Shibpur, Bangladesh)
Ordained Priest:	1972.10.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.09.12
Created Cardinal:	2016.11.19

Bishop of Rajshahi (Bangladesh) (1990.05.21 – 1995.02.03)

Bishop of Chittagong (Bangladesh) (1995.02.03 – 2010.11.25)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) (2010.11.25 – 2011.10.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) (2011.10.22 – 2020.09.30)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (2011.12 – 2020.12)

Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi (2016.11.19 [2017.05.13] – ...)

Archbishop Paulinus Costa
(2005.07.09 – 2011.10.22)

Fill our hearts with joy

Born:	1936.10.19 (Bangladesh)
Ordained Priest:	1963.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.04.26
Died:	2015.01.03 († 78)

Bishop of Rajshahi (Bangladesh) (1996.01.11 – 2005.07.09)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) (2005.07.09 – 2011.10.22)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (2005.08 – 2011.10.22)

Archbishop Michael Rozario
(1977.12.17 – 2005.07.09)

Let us rejoice

Born:	1926.01.18 (Bangladesh)
Ordained Priest:	1956.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.12.08
Died:	2007.03.18 († 81)

Bishop of Dinajpur (Bangladesh) (1968.09.05 – 1977.12.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dhaka (Bangladesh) (1977.12.17 – 2005.07.09)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (1978 – 2005)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Dacca (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C.
(1967.11.23 – 1977.09.02)

I come to you with joyful heart

Born:	1920.02.18 (Bangladesh)
Ordained Priest:	1946.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.10.07
Died:	1977.09.02 († 57)

Titular Bishop of Oliva (1960.09.03 – 1965.07.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1960.09.03 – 1965.07.06)

Titular Archbishop of Drizipara (1965.07.06 – 1967.11.23)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1965.07.06 – 1967.11.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1967.11.23 – 1977.09.02)

President of Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1971 – 1973)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (1973 – 1977)

Archbishop Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C.
(1950.07.15 – 1967.11.23)

Born:	1901.04.03
Ordained Priest:	1923.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.04.23
Died:	1982.04.21 († 81)

Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1947.02.13 – 1950.07.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1950.07.15 – 1967.11.23)

Titular Archbishop of Vazari-Didda (1967.11.23 – 1971.01.23)

Bishops of Dacca (Roman Rite)

Bishop Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1947.02.13 – 1950.07.15)

(see above)

Bishop Timothy Joseph Crowley, C.S.C.
(1929.11.09 – 1945.10.02)

Born:	1880.01.16 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1906.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1927.05.01
Died:	1945.10.02 († 65)

Titular Bishop of Epiphania (1927.01.26 – 1929.11.09)

Coadjutor Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1927.01.26 – 1929.11.09)

Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1929.11.09 – 1945.10.02)

Bishop Amand-Théophile-Joseph Legrand, C.S.C.
(1916.08.16 – 1929.11.09)

Born:	1853.04.19 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1879.09.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1916.11.05
Died:	1937.04.10 († 83)

Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1916.08.16 – 1929.11.09)

Titular Bishop of Cyrene (1929.11.09 – 1937.04.10)

Bishop Frederick Linneborn, C.S.C.
(1909.02.13 – 1915.07.21)

Born:	1864.05.27
Ordained Priest:	1889.04.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1909.04.11
Died:	1915.07.21 († 51)

Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1909.02.13 – 1915.07.21)

Bishop Peter Joseph Hurth, C.S.C. (later Archbishop)
(1894.06.26 – 1909.02.13)

Born:	1857.03.30 (Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1880.03.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1894.09.16
Died:	1935.07.31 († 78)

Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1894.06.26 – 1909.02.13)

Titular Bishop of Milopotamus (1909.02.15 – 1913.01.07)

Bishop of Nueva Segovia (Philippines) (1913.01.07 – 1926.11.12)

Titular Archbishop of Bostra (1926.11.12 – 1935.07.31)

Bishop Augustine Louage, C.S.C.
(1890.11.21 – 1894.06.08)

Born:	1825.09.18
Ordained Priest:	1853.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1891.01.11
Died:	1894.06.08 († 68)

Bishop of Dacca (Bangladesh) (1890.11.21 – 1894.06.08)

Vicars Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jordan Ballsieper, O.S.B. Subl.
(1878.02.04 – 1886.04)

Born:	1835.11.28 (Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1864.10.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1878.05.12
Died:	1890.02.01 († 54)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (Bangladesh) (1878.02.04 – 1886.04)

Titular Bishop of Tanasia (1878.02.04 – 1890.02.01)

President of Subiaco Benedictine Congregation (1888 – 1890.02.01)

Bishop Pierre Dufal, C.S.C.
(1860.07.03 – 1876.07.28)

Born:	1822.11.08 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1852.09.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1860.11.25
Died:	1898.03.15 († 75)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (Bangladesh) (1860.07.03 – 1876.07.28)

Titular Bishop of Delcus (1860.07.03 – 1898.03.15)

Superior General of Congregation of Holy Cross (Holy Cross Fathers) (1866.08.25 – 1868)

Coadjutor Bishop of Galveston (USA) (1878.05.14 – 1879.12.06)

Fr. Louis Verité, C.S.C.
(1856.06.06 – 1860)

Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (Bangladesh) (1856.06.06 – 1860)

Bishop Thomas Oliffe
(1850.02.15 – 1855.11.02)

Born:	1813
Consecrated Bishop:	1843.10.08
Died:	1859.05.13 († 45)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Bengal (India) (1843.08.26 – 1850.02.15)

Titular Bishop of Milos (1843.08.26 – 1859.05.13)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Bengal (Bangladesh) (1850.02.15 – 1855.11.02)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Western Bengal (India) (1850.02.15 – 1855.11.02)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Bengal (India) (1855.11.02 – 1859.05.13)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C. (81) (later Cardinal) (2010.11.25 – 2011.10.22)
Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C. (1965.07.06 – 1967.11.23)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Timothy Joseph Crowley, C.S.C. (1927.01.26 – 1929.11.09)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes (59) (2016.02.08 – 2021.05.12)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C. (85) (1996.02.23 – 2014.04.28)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, C.S.C. (later Archbishop) (1960.09.03 – 1965.07.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Dhaka, Dhaka

Khulna (↙), Mymensingh (↑), Sylhet (↗), Agartala (→), Barishal (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 12,500 km²

Population: 85,615 Catholics (0.3% of 25,497,700 total)

Pastoral Centres: 30 parishes, 30 missions

Personnel: 121 priests (58 diocesan, 63 religious), 590 religious (229 brothers, 361 sisters), 13 seminarians