Bhagalpur as a Diocese is only 53 years old. However, the Christian community at Bhagalpur is over 200 years old. We have the evidence of the presence of Christians here from 1779. The first Christians were mainly European indigo planters, the railway men and their dependents as well as a handful of native converts. We can divide the Diocesan history into three periods i.e. 1. The Early Capuchin period 2. The Interim Patna Jesuit period 3. The TOR period.
Bhagalpur was at first a part of the Prefecture of Tibet-Hindustan, erected by the Sacred Congregation of the Evangelization of the Peoples in 1703. It was entrusted to the Italian Capuchins of the Province of Picenum. Only in 1783, it became a resident station. Fr. Marco della Tomba, an Italian Capuchin was the first to be posted at Bhagalpur. He built the first church with the help of Mr. Dominico Pedro Lopez, an old Portuguese of the place. Then there were several other famous missionaries like Fr. Antony Pezzoni of Lodi who became the Bishop of Agra, Fr. Julius Caesar, Fr. Florian, a Polish Capuchin, Fr. John Baptist Giglio, Fr. Cajetan Cesery, the first Indian priest. From Bihar, Fr. Baptist Maligrano, Fr. John of Anzola and so on.
The Patna Jesuits started working in Bhagalpur only from 1921. Their missionary efforts were directed mainly among the Santals. The Santal mission also witnessed some zealous missionaries like Frs. James Crean, Westropp, Sontag, Ernst Miller, Morrison, Kilian, Raymond Conway and Gibbons to name a few. The Patna Jesuits handed over the mission to Third Order Regular Franciscan missionaries in 1938.
The first Five TOR missionaries arrived in India on the 5th December 1938. Their arrival was blessed with the presence of Fr. Provincial Eugene T. George. The demand of missionary presence in different areas of the mission led to the arrival of a number of missionary personnel in several batches. Soon the TOR mission in India had about 20 Friars. For the better co-ordination and management of the activities of the missionaries, a commissariat (Region) was established in 1945 with Fr. Patrick Boland as the first Commissary Provincial followed by Fr. Urban McGarry as its second Commissary Provincial in 1953 which he held till 1956. Fr. Anthony Ramanattu (+1989) was the first Indian Friar to become Commissary Provincial from 1969-1971. Since the progress of the mission was steady with substantial growth in the number of mission stations, institutions and Catholics, ( about 10,000) with effective steps were taken by the ecclesiastical authorities especially with the recommendation of Most Rev. Martin Lucas SVD, the Apostolic Delegate, who led to the elevation of the TOR mission territory into a Prefecture Apostolic. Thus on August 7, 1956, Bhagalpur was cut off from the diocese of Patna and the Prefecture Apostolic was established. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Urban McGarry TOR, Commissary Provincial, was appointed the Prefect Apostolic.
Under the able leadership of Msgr. Urban McGarry, more mission stations were opened and activities intensified. Recognizing the immense progress made by the Prefecture within a decade, and to give greater stability to the church among the Santals, the Holy See proceeded with the establishment of the Diocese of Bhagalpur, consisting of the same area as that of the Prefecture. On the January 9, 1965, Pope Paul VI nominated Msgr. Urban McGarry as the Bishop and on January 11 by the decree “Cum Dei Munere”, the Pope elevated the Prefecture Apostolic of Bhagalpur to the status of a diocese. The Episcopal Ordination of Msgr. Urban McGarry took place in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona, Pa (U.S.A.) on May 25, 1965.
The Diocese of Bhagalpur, from its inception in 1965 until now, has achieved a lot in various areas of development – spiritual and material. With the good response from the native people and with generous donations, a number of new mission stations are being developed for the evangelization and in providing infrastructure such as building churches, schools, hostels, convents, dispensaries, presbyteries etc. in the remote areas of the Diocese. Our priests, sisters, catechists and other collaborators work tirelessly to fulfill the command of the Lord to spread the Gospel in every village. The Diocese continues to spread the kingdom of God through various pastoral, social, medical and educational apostolates. Today the diocese has about 70,984 Catholics in 85 parishes and several substations. The spiritual renewal is brought through constant visit to families, conducting retreats, seminars, and formation of SCC (Small Christian Communities). Bhagalpur Social Service Society (BSSS), a registered society undertakes various developmental activities with the help of CRS, CARITAS INDIA and various other agencies. There are now several hospitals, health centers, leprosy clinic, homes for the aged as well as for the physically and mentally challenged. The educational apostolate undertaken with the help of Wereldkinderen, CFCA and other donor agencies has resulted in reducing illiteracy, superstitions and has brought about education of children and welfare of the families everywhere.
The Diocese comprises of the districts of Bhagalpur, Banka, Jamui and civil blocks of Lakshmipur, Kharagpur and Tarapur of Munger district of Bihar State; Godda, Giridih, civil districts of Deoghar and Sarawan of Deoghar district and Mandro block of Sahebganj district of Jharkhand State.
Thirty One Religious Congregations of Sisters participate in the ministry of evangelization through the apostolic, educational, social and medical activities of the Diocese.
Gungasa, Poreyahat: Catechetical Seminar for Pastoral Sisters was held on 11 - 15, April 2023 at CDTC, Poreyahat. Many Pastoral Sisters were attended
Feb 22Giridih: Blessing of foundation stone was laid on the Ash Wednesday February 22, 2023 by Rev Bishop Kurien Valiakandathil. Copotgoda mission is a part
