ST. PIUS X CHURCH, MAHESHMUNDA
Patron/ness St. Pius X
Annual Feast Day 21 August
Established 1943
Catholics 2806
Mass Centers Chengerbad
Jhalakdiha
Clergy Rev Fr. Daniel Soren (PP)
Rev Fr. Masicharan Hansdak (APP)
Rev Fr. Maurice Marandi
Address St. Pius X Church, P.O – Maheshmunda, Dist – Giridih - 851312, Jharkhand
Religious Houses Holy Cross Sisters Convent (HC)
DSHS Convent

Institutions St. John Britto Boys Middle School
St. John Britto Boys High School
St. Josephs’ English Medium School
Holy Cross – Nirmala Girls Middle School (HC)
Holy Cross – Nirmala Girls High School (HC)
Study Home for Boys & Girls
Nirmala Health Centre

According to the tradition, a certain Australian Jesuit, named Rev. Fr. Delsvk SJ arrived in Giridih in 1943 with a Bible in his hand. He made a hut near the Jilebimore, near Pirtanr, on the way to Dumri from Giridih. Rev. Fr. Edward De Meulder succeeded Rev. Fr. Delsvk SJ in 1953. Fr. De Meulder did not stay in his predecessor’s hut in Pirtanr, but moved to Maheshmunda. When CSST Sisters accepted Rev. Fr. De Meulder‘s invitation to begin a School, he let them settle in Giridih.

Since Giridih Parish area is predominantly inhabited by Santals, Ranchi Diocese annexed this area to Bhagalpur. Rev. Bishop Pius Kerketta of Ranchi and Late Rev. Bp. Urban McGarry of Bhagalpur celebrated Mass together in Maheshmunda Church. Archbishop Pius, after homily, offered a plate of soil from Maheshmunda to the Bishop of Bhagalpur as a symbol of transfer of the Parish to Bhagalpur Diocese. At the end of the Holy Eucharist Late Rt. Rev. Bp. Urban announced that as a remembrance of the gift given to Bhagalpur, Mahesmunda parish will be named after the Archbishop Pius Kerketta. The name of the Maheshmunda Parish is St. Pius X Church.

The first Diocesan priest of Maheshmunda parish was Late Rev. Fr. Jacob Kollamparampil. He continued the ways of Rev. Fr. Hans SJ who visited every village of the parish once a month. There were many Mass centers such as Garhi, Tilkimaran, Tisri Pandna, Harmatari etc. Mahesmunda grew up to bifurcate a total of 13 parishes in due course of time.