The Holy Fathes John XXIII, by the Apostolic Bull Exultec Sancta Mater Ecclesiz, established the Diocese of Dumka on 8th August 1962. 36 years later hence the Diocese of Puznes is borm from Duska. through a declamtion of Pope Jonn Paui on 11th August 1998.

However, the history of the Catholic Diocese of Purnea can bettaced back not just to these 36 years, but to almost 236 ycars. Records show thatin 1773 Pumes district of that time was already formingpartof the Vicariate of the Great Moghul, which was servod by the Jesuits and later by the Carmelites. Subsequenly Rome attached Purocz to the neighboring prefectzre of Tibet under the Capuchins, with Patna as its headquertest. In 1820 it becane part of the Agra Vicariats. By then the Capuchin Pathers had been regularly visiting Purnea from diferent places. In January 1836 Mgr. Pezzoni visited Purnca accompenied by Fr. Florian Toposkia, Polish Capuchin. The latter was appointed as the frsc resident priest of Purnes to serve the scattered commusity of European indigo planters who had started setling down in aad atound Putacs. as soon as British rule was established in the District aod way before the 1770%.

When Patns. Vicatizte was crcatod on 7th February 1845, Purnca became part of it under the Capucbins. On 1st August, 1886 the Ladiat Hierarchy was established and the Pena Vicasiete was suppressed end its territory joined to the Alahabad diocese. Then on 7th June 1887 Pope Leo XII transferred Purnea distict to Calcutte Arcodiocese, smainly to provide a tertitotial Enk betwcen Calcuttz and Darjecling. Fr. Thomas McGocagal, S.J., took over at Pumea on 1 December 1888 from P Heliodorus, OFM. Cap. At this point the Parisa Priest of Purnea was also in charge of the Railway colonics from Sahibganj to Burdwan, and used to visit also Rampurhat, Nalbati and even Naya Dumka.

Duzing this time the Loseto sistets (BVM) also came to Purnea. They arrived on 15th December 1882 and opened a school, working there till thcy left for Darjecling on/th Novermber 1887.

In 1900 Fr. L. Kaockaert S.J. took charge in Purnea and worked in the region tll 1921 except for a gap of three years. It was he who pioneered the work among the Santhals of the Purnea district. HHis wock led to the opezing of Majlispur (now in Raiganj diocese), which today is considered to be the Cradle of the Jesuit Santhal missions, and was the launcbing pad for work among the Santhals of Sacthal Pargauas. Tbe Jesuits continued theis work in Purmea till 1978. From April 1978 to MMay 1981, Rev. Michael Miij, a diocesan priest was the parish priest of Purnea.

Rt. Rcv. Telesphore P. Toppo, the Bishop of Dumka wrote his firstlettez to Mother Teresa on 23:d March 1979, as a cbild always comes to his motiher, I also come to you with a request. He wrote, there is a church in Katihar with 3 rooms attached to it which tac sisters can usc.

On the 22nd April 1979, Mother offered him the sisters and the first comuoity anived Katibar on the 29th June 1979 with our dearest St Clare M.C. Once the sisters reached, one priest too started staying, so the sisters had to stay only in a small place which is above the sacristy. Later on 26th February 1981 Mother Teresa visited Katbar and as well Putnca accompanied by Rt Rev. Telesphore P. Toppo.

Or 31st May 1981 the Salesians of Don Bosco began to administer the parish. Soon the Purnca mission witnessed rapid growth and deveiopment. Evangelization was given top priority and new pasishes and mission stations were opened, most of them with their ow pucca chapels. Besides these, hostcls for boys and girls, schoois, parish Thouses, Community ceaters and other works in the service of the pour sprung up one after anothes. In this peziod of history, covering a span of 15 ycars, Ft. Jesus Gimenez, S.D.B. played a gigantic role in the development and progress of the Purnea deanesy, Katiher, which hadd been an important part of Purnca mission, where a church had been in existence Srom 1940, beczxae a quasi patish in 1980 and a patish on 26th Apsi! 1987. Kathas too underwent rapid development and expansion under the care of the Salcsians of Don Bosco, and it has given birth to two more parishes; Gopalpur in 1994 acd Baghelain 1997.

Kishanganj Mission Station was established with a residect priest-in-charge in June 1983, and it became a pasish in 1994. In 1991 Thakuganj was opened es a Mission Station under Kishanganj aad then subsequently made into a pazish in 1995, aed is being admicistered by the LOR Fathes.

Raniganj, 47 kms North West of Purnca had become a Mission Statioc 1986. It was biurcated from Purnca to be ade an independent patishin 1994. Satmi, 37 kms west of Putnca too was a place regulasly visited by pricsts from Purcez. A chapel bad been built there in 1954. It too became a full-fledged parish in 1994. Banmankhi was another fast-devcloped Mission-station under Purnca with two resident priests, which beczzne a patish in 1998.

Prior to 1849 only a timber, bamboo and straw chapel existed at Rambagh on the outskirts of Purnea.A brick chapel was built in its place and blessed by Bishop Hartman, the Vicar Apostolic of Patne. on 19th August 1849. In 1868 the construction of a brick chapel was started inn Pusnes itself, The incomplete chapel was used for the first time on Christmas 1871. An carthquake on 14th July 1885 damaged it coosidersbly; but it was subsequently repaired. However another earihquake on 15th Jannasy 1953 destroyed it completely and & newchurch had to be builtin the followingyeat. It was cenlargedin 1967.

On ât'h December 1989, the foundation stone for a big and spacious church was blessed and laid adjacent to the old chuxch. The church was solemnly blessed and dedicated on 8th March 1992, by Bishop S. M.Tiru, and now itis the Cathedral of Purnca dioccsc.

According to the decree of Pope John Paul II the diocese of Pusnce consists of the Northern portion of the diocese of Dumka, beyond the river Ganges, viz, the four civil districts of Purnca, Kathas, Kishanganj and Amria of Biher State, covering an area of 15,733 sq. lame. The diocese has a populasion of over 83,49,215 pеople, of whom about 25,000 aze Catholics. The majority of the Catholic population consists of Santhels, Orons 2nd Mundas.

The folluwing Congtegations are contributing generously to the apostolic ministry in the diocese of Purnea.

• Ursvline Sisters of Tildonk (OSU) [1966]
• Franciscan Sisters of the Inmaculate Heart of Mary (FIH) [1975]
• Missionaties of Charity, Sisters (MC) [1979i
• Daughters of St. Anne (Raschi) (DSA) [1980]
• Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) [1981]
• Missionaries of Chatity, Brothers (MC) [1981]
• Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMU) [2985]
• Third Order Kegular of St. Prancis of Penance (TOR) [19891
• The Franciscan Clatist Sisters (PCC) [1994]
• Lay Association of the Disciples of Don Bosco [1994
• St. Joseph of Cluny (S]C) [2002]
• Society of Jesus (S) [20051
• Queen of the Apostles (SRA) [2005
• Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery (CS]) [20091]
• Congregation of Teresian Cermelitcs (CTC) [2020]

Besides proclamation of the Good News, the Clergy, Religious and the faithful are engaged also in other forms of ministries for the development and well being of the people asound, irtespective of caste, class or creed, such as educational, health-care and socisl services.

As the fruit of the zealous evangelization of over 200 years Purnes region has been declared as a diocese of the Catholic Chuzch. On the 11th August 1998 Pope John Paul II announced the nomication of the first Bishop of Purnea - Rev. Rr. Vincent Barwa. The Episcopal consecration took place on 8th November 1998. Purnea began & new life with the life - giving message ""Belicve in Jesus”. On 29th September 2004 Bishop Vincent Barwa was appointed the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Ranchi. In the vacantsee Fr. Francis Tirkey functioned as the Diocesan Administrator until Fr. Angelus Kujur S] was appointed as the 2nd Bishop of Purnes by His Holiness Benedict XVI oc. 20 February, 2007. The Episcopal Ordination took place on 18th April 2007 and Bishop chose bis motto "Feed my Lambs." (Jn 21:15)

Bishop Angelus Kajur S] gotretired on 8th December 2021 and Fr. Sabayaraj C. was functioniog as the Administrator until Fr. Francis Tizkey was appoiated es the 3xd Bishop of Purnea by His Holiness Pope Francis on 17th Febyuary, 2024. The Episcopal Ordination took place on 4th Aptil 2024 aod Bishop chose his motto "I can do all things in HHim who strergthens me. " Phil. 4:13.