Syro-Malabar Diocese of

Bijnor

India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Syro-Malabar

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bijnor / Biinoren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Faridabad

Neighbouring Dioceses: Meerut (↙), Simla and Chandigarh (↖), Kangding 康定 (↗), Bareilly (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph

History

1972.03.23: Established as Apostolic Exarchate of Bijnor / Biinoren(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Meerut and became suffragan of Agra)
1977.02.26: Promoted as Diocese of Bijnor / Biinoren(sis) (Latin)
2025.08.28: Gained territory from Diocese of Shamshabad and became suffragan of Faridabad

Present Prelates

Bishop (2019.08.30 – ...):

Bishop Vincent Nellaiparambil (54)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bijnor (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Bishop Vincent Nellaiparambil (54)
(2019.08.30 – ...)

Bishop of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India)

For God and humanity through love

Born:	1971.05.30 (Arippalam, India)
Ordained Priest:	1999.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.11.01

Priest of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1999.04.08 – 2019.08.30)

Bishop of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2019.08.30 – ...)

Bishop John Vadakel, C.M.I. (82)
(2009.08.14 – 2019.08.20)

Bishop emeritus of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India)

Not to be served but to serve

Born:	1943.09.08 (Beslehem, India)
Ordained Priest:	1975.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.10.22

Bishop of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2009.08.14 – 2019.08.20)

Bishop Gratian Mundadan, C.M.I. (92)
(1977.02.26 – 2009.08.14)

Bishop emeritus of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India)

Born:	1933.05.15 (Alengad, India)
Ordained Priest:	1964.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.11.06

Apostolic Exarch of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1972.03.23 – 1977.02.26)

Bishop of Bijnor of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1977.02.26 – 2009.08.14)

Apostolic Visitator in India outside the proper territory of the Syro-Malabars (2006.07.15 – 2014.01.11)

Apostolic Exarchs of Bijnor (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Fr. Gratian Mundadan, C.M.I. (92) (later Bishop)
(1972.03.23 – 1977.02.26)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Kotdwar, Uttarakhand

Meerut (↙), Simla and Chandigarh (↖), Kangding 康定 (↗), Bareilly (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 33,819 km²

Population: 4,545 Catholics (0.0% of 11,336,240 total)

Pastoral Centres: 49 parishes, 50 missions

Personnel: 83 priests (51 diocesan, 32 religious), 271 religious (46 brothers, 225 sisters), 16 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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