Diocese of

Dumka

India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Dumka / Dumkaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Ranchi

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Paul of Tarsus

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1952.01.17: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Malda / de Malda (Latin) (from Diocese of Dinajpur and became suffragan of Calcutta)
1962.08.08: Promoted as Diocese of Dumka / Dumkaën(sis) (Latin)
1978.06.08: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Raiganj and became suffragan of Ranchi
1998.06.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Purnea

Present Prelates

Bishop (1997.06.14 – ...):	Bishop Julius Marandi (70)
Auxiliary Bishop (2025.04.12 – ...):	Bishop-elect Sonatan Kisku (55) Titular Bishop of Zarna

Ordinaries

Bishops of Dumka (Roman Rite)

Bishop Julius Marandi (70)
(1997.06.14 – ...)

Bishop of Dumka (India)

Humility is the key of being pastor

Born:	1954.06.08 (Belatanr, India)
Ordained Priest:	1983.12.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.10.07

Priest of Daltonganj (India) (1983.12.09 – 1997.06.14)

Bishop of Dumka (India) (1997.06.14 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Asansol (India) (2022.05.04 – 2023.07.03)

Bishop Stephen M. Tiru
(1986.04.18 – 1995.04.01)

Because of Jesus, I live

Born:	1937.12.01 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1969.05.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.10.07
Died:	2012.03.03 († 74)

Bishop of Dumka (India) (1986.04.18 – 1995.04.01)

Bishop of Khunti (India) (1995.04.01 – 2012.03.03)

Bishop Telesphore Placidus Toppo (later Cardinal)
(1978.06.08 – 1984.11.08)

Parare viam Domini

Born:	1939.10.15 (Chainpur, India)
Ordained Priest:	1969.05.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.10.07
Created Cardinal:	2003.10.21
Died:	2023.10.04 (Mandar, India † 83)

Priest of Ranchi (India) (1969.05.03 – 1978.06.08)

Bishop of Dumka (India) (1978.06.08 – 1984.11.08)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Ranchi (India) (1984.11.08 – 1985.08.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Ranchi (India) (1985.08.07 – 2018.06.24)

Vice-President of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (1998 – 2002)

President of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (2002 – 2005)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia (2003.10.21 [2004.05.23] – 2023.10.04)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (2004.01.12 – 2008.02.19)

Member of Commission of Cardinals overseeing the Institute for Works of Religion (2008.02.24 – 2014.01.15)

President of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (2011.01.12 – 2013.02)

Member of Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Apostolic See (2012.06.23 – 2014.02.24)

Bishop Leo Tigga, S.J.
(1962.08.08 – 1978.06.08)

Born:	1916.01.31 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1948.11.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.10.07
Died:	1986.01.29 († 69)

Bishop of Dumka (India) (1962.08.08 – 1978.06.08)

Bishop of Raiganj (India) (1978.06.08 – 1986.01.29)

Prefects Apostolic of Malda (Roman Rite)

Fr. Adam Grossi, P.M.E.
(1952.03.28 – 1962)

Died:

1962

Prefect Apostolic of Malda (India) (1952.03.28 – 1962)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Paul, Dumka, Jhārkhand

Hazaribag (←), Bhagalpur (↑), Purnea (↑), Raiganj (↗), Krishnagar (↘), Asansol (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 14,356 km²

Population: 207,336 Catholics (4.6% of 4,542,658 total)

Pastoral Centres: 73 parishes

Personnel: 222 priests (72 diocesan, 150 religious), 546 religious (186 brothers, 360 sisters), 45 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.04.16

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