Diocese of Darjeeling

Dioecesis Darieelingensis

दार्जिलिंग के सूबा
Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Darjeeling
Location
Country India
 Bhutan
Ecclesiastical provinceCalcutta
MetropolitanCalcutta
Statistics
Area10,880 km2 (4,200 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2021)
2,331,153
37,320 (2.4%)
Parishes60
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established15 February 1929 (as a Mission Sui Iuris)
CathedralImmaculate Conception Cathedral in Darjeeling
Secular priests147
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopMost Rev. Stephen Lepcha
Metropolitan ArchbishopThomas D'Souza

The Diocese of Darjeeling is a Latin Roman Catholic suffragan diocese situated in the north east of India, in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Calcutta, yet depends on the missionary Dicastery for Evangelization.

It includes within its territory the independent (essentially Buddhist) Himalayan state of Bhutan, where Christianity is practiced by a tiny minority and proselytism is forbidden.

The cathedral episcopal see is the Marian Immaculate Conception Cathedral, in Darjeeling, West Bengal state, India.

Statistics

New data from the Annuario Pontifico 2022 reveals as of 2021, it pastorally served 37,320 Catholics (2.4% of 1,535,370 total) on 9,521 km² in 60 parishes and missions with 147 priests (83 diocesan, 64 religious), 384 lay religious (98 brothers, 286 sisters).[1][2]

History

Ordinaries

(all Roman Rite) [1]

Ecclesiastical Superior of Sikkim
Apostolic Prefects of Sikkim
  • Father Jules Elmire Douénel, M.E.P. † (see above 19 February 1929 – retired 16 June 1931)
  • Father Aurelio Gianora C.R.S.M.A. † (d. 31 Dec 1995) (14 May 1937 – resigned 8 August 1962)
Suffragan Bishops of Darjeeling
  • Most Rev. Eric Benjamin (born India) (8 August 1962 – died 12 May 1994)
  • Most Rev. Stephen Lepcha (born India) (14 June 1997).

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Diocese of Darjeeling, India".
  2. "Darjeeling (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 5 July 2023.

27°02′47″N 88°15′51″E / 27.0464°N 88.2643°E / 27.0464; 88.2643

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