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	<title>Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi - Revision history</title>
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{For|the Church of North India diocese based in Ranchi|Diocese of Chotanagpur}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Infobox diocese&lt;br /&gt;
| jurisdiction      = Archdiocese&lt;br /&gt;
| name              = Ranchi&lt;br /&gt;
| latin             = Archidioecesis Ranchiensis&lt;br /&gt;
| local             = रांची के सूबा&lt;br /&gt;
| image             = Ranchi - Cathédrale Sainte-Marie - 1.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| image_size        = &lt;br /&gt;
| image_alt         = Saint Mary&amp;#039;s Cathedral&lt;br /&gt;
| caption           = Saint Mary&amp;#039;s Cathedral, on  Dr Kamil Bulcke Rd, Ranchi&lt;br /&gt;
| coat              = &lt;br /&gt;
| coat_size         = &lt;br /&gt;
| coat_alt          = &lt;br /&gt;
| coat_caption      = &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!---- Locations ----&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| country           = {{flag|India}}&lt;br /&gt;
| territory         = &lt;br /&gt;
| province          = Ranchi&lt;br /&gt;
| deaneries         = &lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters      = &lt;br /&gt;
| coordinates       = &amp;lt;!-- Use {{coord}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!---- Statistics ----&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| area_km2          = 5,299&lt;br /&gt;
| area_sqmi         = &amp;lt;!-- Area in square miles, automatically converted --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| area_footnotes    = &lt;br /&gt;
| population        = 2,912,111&lt;br /&gt;
| population_as_of  = 2011&lt;br /&gt;
| catholics         = 135,744&lt;br /&gt;
| catholics_percent = 4.5&lt;br /&gt;
| parishes          = 35&lt;br /&gt;
| churches          = &amp;lt;!-- Number of churches in the diocese --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| congregations     = &amp;lt;!-- Number of congregations in the diocese --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| schools           = &amp;lt;!-- Number of church supported schools in the diocese --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| members           = &amp;lt;!-- Number of members in the diocese --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!---- Information ----&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| denomination      = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]&lt;br /&gt;
| sui_iuris_church  = [[Latin Church]]&lt;br /&gt;
| rite              = [[Roman Rite]]&lt;br /&gt;
| established       = 25 May 1927&lt;br /&gt;
| cathedral         = Cathedral of St Mary in [[Ranchi]]&lt;br /&gt;
| cocathedral       = &lt;br /&gt;
| patron            = [[St Francis Xavier]]&lt;br /&gt;
| patron_title      = &amp;lt;!-- Use to override the default label &amp;quot;Patron saint&amp;quot; --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| priests           = &amp;lt;!-- Number of priests in the diocese --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!---- Current leadership ----&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| pope              = {{Incumbent pope}} &amp;lt;!-- DO NOT CHANGE. This will update the Popes Automatically as they change --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| bishop            = &amp;lt;!-- Name and title of the current ordinary of the diocese --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| bishop_title      = &amp;lt;!-- Type of ordinary: i.e. Bishop or Archbishop. Default is Bishop --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| metro_archbishop  = [[Felix Toppo]] SJ&lt;br /&gt;
| coadjutor         = &lt;br /&gt;
| suffragans        = &amp;lt;!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration); use | suffragan = for one --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| auxiliary_bishops = Theodore Mascarenhas SFX and Telesphore Bilung SVD&lt;br /&gt;
| apostolic_admin   = &lt;br /&gt;
| vicar_general     = Fr. Sebastian Tirkey&lt;br /&gt;
| episcopal_vicar   = &lt;br /&gt;
| judicial_vicar    = &lt;br /&gt;
| archdeacons       = &amp;lt;!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of first collation); use | archdeacon = for one--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| emeritus_bishops  = [[Telesphore Toppo|Cardinal Telesphore Toppo]]&amp;lt;!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!---- Map ----&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| map               = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_size          = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_alt           = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption       = &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;!---- Website ----&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| website           = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes         = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Latin: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Archidioecesis Ranchiensis&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) 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 &amp;quot;subscribes to [[ahimsa]] and [[satyagraha]]&amp;quot;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
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).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&amp;lt;!--{{Citation needed}} begin--&amp;gt;{{fix |link=Wikipedia:Citation needed |text=citation needed |class=Template-Fact }}&amp;lt;!--{{Citation needed}} end--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Archbishops of Ranchi==&lt;br /&gt;
[[Louis Van Hoeck]], S.J. (Appointed 15 Feb 1928 - Died 30 Apr 1933)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{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}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Oscar Sevrin]], S.J. (Appointed 9 Apr 1934 - 13 Dec 1951 translated to [[Ramgarh, Chhattisgarh|Raigarh-Ambikapur]])&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Niclas Kujur|Nicolas Kujur]], S.J. (Appointed 13 Dec 1951 - Died 25 Jul 1960)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Pius Kerketta]], S.J. (Appointed 7 Mar 1961 - Retired 7 Aug 1985)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Telesphore Toppo]] was Archbishop of Ranchi from 1985 to 2018.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Vincent Barwa]] is auxiliary bishop since 2004. [[Binay Kandulna]] was appointed auxiliary bishop in February 2009.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Felix Toppo]] is the present Archbishop of Ranchi. He was appointed as the Archbishop of Ranchi on 24 June 2018 and was installed on 6 June 2018.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Saints and causes for canonisation==&lt;br /&gt;
* 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.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CCBI&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://ccbi.in/saints-blessed/|title=Saints &amp;amp; Blessed – CCBI|accessdate=Oct 17, 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;              &lt;br /&gt;
* Servant of God Mary Bernadette Prasad Kispotta&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;CCBI&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== References ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
* {{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820065919/http://www.cbcisite.com/Ranchi.htm | archivedate=20 August 2008 | url=http://www.cbcisite.com/Ranchi.htm | title=Ranchi Archdiocese  | publisher=Catholic Bishops&amp;#039; Conference of India | accessdate=10 July 2019 }}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== External links ==&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060907155824/http://www.ranchiarchdiocese.org/ The Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese ]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/ranc0.htm GCatholic.org]&lt;br /&gt;
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/drnch.html Catholic-hierarchy.org]&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080820065919/http://www.cbcisite.com/Ranchi.htm]&lt;br /&gt;
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{{coord|23.3680|N|85.3300|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}&lt;br /&gt;
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{{authority control}}&lt;br /&gt;
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranchi}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in India]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1927]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Christianity in Jharkhand]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:1927 establishments in India]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
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