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{{Short description|Catholic archdiocese in Jharkhand, India}}
{{For|the Church of North India diocese based in Ranchi|Diocese of Chotanagpur}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction = Metropolitan Archdiocese
| name = Ranchi
| latin = Archidioecesis Metropolitae Ranchiensis
| local = रांची महानगर महाधर्मप्रांत
| image = Ranchi - Cathédrale Sainte-Marie - 1.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt = Saint Mary's Cathedral
| caption = Saint Mary's Cathedral, on Dr Kamil Bulcke Rd, Ranchi
| coat =
| coat_size =
| coat_alt =
| coat_caption =

| country = {{flag|India}}
| territory =
| province = Ranchi
| deaneries =
| headquarters =
| coordinates = 

| area_km2 = 5,299
| area_sqmi = 
| area_footnotes =
| population = 3,703,427
| population_as_of = 2022
| catholics = 177,189
| catholics_percent = 4.8
| parishes = 35
| churches = 
| congregations = 
| schools = 
| members = 

| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| sui_iuris_church = [[Latin Church]]
| rite = [[Roman Rite]]
| established = 25 May 1927
| cathedral = [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Ranchi]]
| cocathedral =
| patron = [[St Francis Xavier]]
| patron_title = 
| priests = 

| pope = {{Incumbent pope}} 
| bishop = [[Vincent Aind]]
| bishop_title = Metropolitan Archbishop
| metro_archbishop =
| coadjutor =
| suffragans = 
| auxiliary_bishops =
| apostolic_admin =
| vicar_general =
| episcopal_vicar =
| judicial_vicar =
| archdeacons = 
| emeritus_bishops = [[Felix Toppo]]

| map =
| map_size =
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| website = https://www.ranchiarchdiocese.com/
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Ranchi Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese''' (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Metropolitae Ranchiensis'') comprises the districts of [[Ranchi District|Ranchi]] and [[Lohardaga District|Lohardaga]] of [[Jharkhand]] [[States and territories of India|state]], [[India]]. It was established by a decree of the [[Holy See]] dated 25 May 1927, when it was separated from the [[Archdiocese of Calcutta|Calcutta Archdiocese]] to form a new [[Diocese]], with its episcopal seat at Ranchi. In 1953 it was elevated to the status of an archdiocese. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi declares that it "subscribes to [[ahimsa]] and [[satyagraha]]".

==Background==
The first [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] to enter Chotanagpur was Fr [[Auguste Stockman]]. He traveled by bullock cart from [[Midnapur]] and after a difficult journey of a fortnight reached [[Chaibasa]] on 25 November 1868. His work among the Ho tribe did not yield results, so he moved towards Ranchi district in January 1875.

Other Belgian Jesuits came to Ranchi in 1877 to act as military chaplains to the troops at Doranda ([[Ranchi]]). As the prospects of [[evangelization]] among the tribals of Chotanagpur were bright, the first mission stations were opened among the [[Mundas]]. However, the real impetus came from Fr [[Constant Lievens]], who arrived at Doranda on 18 March 1885. He is often called the Apostle of Chotanagpur. He left Ranchi on 26 August 1892, a broken man. He died at [[Leuven]] in Belgium on 7 November 1893. A century later on 7 November 1993 his mortal remains were re-interred in the Ranchi Cathedral.

To assist the missionaries, the Loreto Sisters from Ireland opened a convent in the red Lodge on Purulia Road, Ranchi, in March 1890. It was here that the Daughters of St. Anne, a Diocesan Congregation, had their beginning in 1897. The Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, Belgium established themselves in the same compound on 13 January 1903.

==History==
By 1927 the Ranchi Mission had developed to such an extent that by decree of the [[Holy See]], dated 25 May 1927, it was separated from the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta|Calcutta Archdiocese]] to form a new Diocese with Ranchi as its Episcopal seat and Msgr. [[:fr:Louis Van Hoeck|Louis Van Hoeck]], sj, as the first bishop. He was succeeded by Rt. Rev. [[Oscar Sevrin]] sj, in 1934, who was pastor for 18 years (1934 - 1952).

As the faith spread and took firm root in Chotanagpur, the [[Roman Catholic church|Catholic Church]] was being built up and developed, especially through parishes and schools. Soon the rapid growth of the mission made it imperative to call in other labourers, the S.V.D. Fathers, the Australian and American Jesuits.

For better pastoral care of the faithful, the vast Archdiocese of Ranchi was divided and on 14 June 1951, the Diocese of Sambalpur gave birth to Rourkela Diocese on 4 July 1979 and Ambikapur became a separate diocese on 14 December 1977. On 19 September 1953, the Diocese of Ranchi was raised to the status of an Archdiocese with Sambalpur and Cuttack as its suffragans. On 2 July 1962, the Diocese of Jamshedpur was created. Then in 1968, the Diocese of Patna and Bhagalpur and the Prefecture of Balasore were made suffragans of Ranchi Archdiocese. Again on 5 June 1971 the Diocese of Daltonganj, comprising the civil districts of Hazaribagh (which itself became a diocese on 12 May 1995), and Palamau was carved out of the Archdiocese of Ranchi. In 1980, Muzaffarpur Diocese was formed from a part of Patna Diocese and made suffragan of Ranchi.

The Andamans and Nicobar Islands, became part of Ranchi in 1947, and were since 1966 under the care of the Pilar Fathers, and became a new Diocese on 26 June 1984.

On 1 July 1993, two new Dioceses, Gumla and Simdega, were established with territories taken from the Ranchi Archdiocese. On 12 May 1995 the new Diocese of Khunti was established with territories taken from the Archdiocese of Ranchi. It comprises the whole Khunti civil Sub-division. In 1998 two more new Dioceses were created, North of the Ganges, and made suffragans of Ranchi, Bettiah and Purnea.

Thus the original Ranchi Diocese divided into 14 Dioceses including the present Archdiocese of Ranchi. On 16 March 1999 the Ranchi Ecclesiastical Province was bifurcated in anticipation of the creation of Jharkhand. Patna, Capital of Bihar, became an Archdiocese with four suffragans: Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Purnea.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The dioceses [[Diocese of Daltonganj|Daltonganj]], [[Diocese of Dumka|Dumka]], [[Diocese of Gumla|Gumla]], [[Diocese of Hazaribag|Hazaribag]], [[Diocese of Jamshedpur|Jamshedpur]], [[Diocese of Khunti|Khunti]], [[Diocese of Port Blair|Port Blair]] and [[Diocese of Simdega|Simdega]] are suffragans of the archdiocese.

==Archbishops of Ranchi==
*[[Louis Van Hoeck]], S.J. (15 February 1928 - 30 April 1933)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Ranchi (Latin (or Roman) Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drnch.html|access-date=2021-01-22|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>
*[[Oscar Sevrin]], S.J. (9 April 1934 - 13 December 1951)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Niclas Kujur|Nicolas Kujur]], S.J. (13 December 1951 - 25 July 1960)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Pius Kerketta]], S.J. (7 March 1961 -7 August 1985)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Telesphore Toppo]] (1985 – 2018)
*[[Felix Toppo]] (24 June 2018 – 30 December 2023)<ref name=aind>{{cite press release | url = https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/12/30/231230c.html | publisher = Holy See Press Office | access-date = 31 December 2023 | date = 30 December 2023 | title = Resignations and Appointments, 30.12.2023 }}</ref>
*[[Vincent Aind]] (30 December 2023<ref name=aind/> – present)

==Auxiliary Bishops of Ranchi==
*[[Vincent Barwa]], D.D. (9 September 2004 - 11 February 2008)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Binay Kandulna]], D.D. (11 February 2009 - 30 November 2012)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Telesphore Bilung]], S.V.D. (30 August 2014 -1 November 2021)<ref name=":0" />
*[[Theodore Mascarenhas]], S.F.X. (30 August 2014 – 30 November 2023)<ref name=":0" />

==Saints and causes for canonisation==
* Servant of God [[Constant Lievens]], SJ. His Cause for [[Beatification]] was officially inaugurated at Moorslede, in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bruges|Diocese of Bruges]] [[Ursulines|Ursuline Sisters]] (Belgium) on 15 March 2001.<ref name="CCBI">{{Cite web|url=http://ccbi.in/saints-blessed/|title=Saints & Blessed – CCBI|accessdate=Oct 17, 2019}}</ref>
* Servant of God Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta<ref name="CCBI" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060907155824/http://www.ranchiarchdiocese.org/ The Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese ]
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/ranc0.htm GCatholic.org]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drnch.html Catholic-hierarchy.org]
* {{cite web | archive-date= 20 August 2008 | website =Catholic Bishops' Conference of India | url = http://www.cbcisite.com/Ranchi.htm | url-status= usurped | title = Ranchi Archdiocese History | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820065919/http://www.cbcisite.com/Ranchi.htm }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranchi}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in India]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1927]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christianity in Jharkhand]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in India]]

Archdiocese of Ranchi - Revision history

RowenaTardent at 07:00, 4 October 2025