Purnea Cathedral
St. Peter's Church
19 June
- Fr. Anil Lugun, P.P.
- Fr. Gabriel Dungdung, Co-Pastor
- Fr. Eugence B. Soreng, Co-Pastor
- Fr. Lazrus Minj, Hostel In Charge
Catholic Church, Purnea
P.O. & Dt. Bihar – 854301
Phone: (06454) 222706
History
The Capuchin Fathers from different places visited Purnea. From 1836 there has been a resident priest in Purnea to serve the scattered community of indigo planters. Before 1849, a timber bamboo and straw chapel existed at Rambagh on the outskirts of Purnea. This was replaced by a brick chapel, which was blessed by Bishop Hartman, the Vicar Apostolic of Patna, on 19th August 1849. In 1868 the construction of a brick chapel was started in Purnea town, in the present site, on land acquired from the Government. The incomplete chapel was used for the first time on Christmas 1871. On 8th December 1989, the foundation stone for a big and spacious church was blessed and this new parish church was solemnly blessed and dedicated on 8th March 1992, by Bishop S.M. Tiru, at present Bishop of the Diocese of Khunti (Jharkhand).
Amour
St. Francis Xavier
3 December
- Fr. Sahayaraj C., P.P.
- Fr. Augustus Minj, Co-Pastor & Principal
Catholic Church, Halalpur
Santhal Tola, P.O. Amour
Via – Baisi, Dt. Purnea-854 315 (Bihar)
History
The Amour Mission consists of three village-chapels, situated at northeast corner of Purnea the ecclesiastical and district center. Rev. Robert Tigga was officially installed by Bishop Vincent Barwa on 7th June 2003 to reside over there and to explore all the possibilities of apostolate till 2006. The evangelization works continues and the mission growing steadily. In 2004 a primary school was started and it was closed for a short while, and again on 22 June 2013 the school reopened by the efforts of Fr. Rajendra and Fr. Augustus.
Baghela
Immaculate Conception
8 December
- Fr. Celestine Kujur, P.P., Hostel In Charge
- Fr. Michael Kisku, Co-Pastor & H.M.
St. Paul's Catholic Church, Baghela
P.O. Milik Pelagarh, Via Sonali
Dt. Katihar-854 114 (Bihar)
History
In the seventies some land was acquired at Baghela and more land was bought for the future convent of the Sisters. A church and later priests' residence were completed in 1992 and blessed in 1993. Now there is a primary and high school which is upgraded upto class 10. The Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart are looking after the dispensary, hostel for girls and pastoral work since 29th June 1997.
Baghwakol
St. Joseph
19 March
- Fr. Francis Ekka, Father In Charge
- Fr. Cyprian Tigga, Co-Pastor
St. Joseph's Catholic Mission
Vill. Tarbana - Baghwakol
P.O. Hasanganj- Via Ranipatra
Dt. Katihar-854 337 (Bihar)
History
The land was purchased from Katihar in view of a mission station. The priests started to reside from 1st July 1999. Construction of presbytery and a primary school were blessed on 28th January, 2002. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny joined the mission on 23rd March, 2003.
Banmankhi
St. Joseph
19 March
- Fr. Benedict Tete, P.P.
- Fr. Kota Raja Mohan, Co-Pastor
Catholic Church, Gangeli More
P.O. Bishunpur Dutt, Via-Banmankhi
Dt. Purnea-854 202, Bihar
History
The land was bought from Purnea. It developed very fast. There is a primary school, hostel for girls and a dispensary run by the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Heart. There is also a small hostel for boys. The Sisters began their ministry in 1998 and also then resident priests were appointed. After the creation of the diocese more land was bought for further development.
Belwa
Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Fr. Philemon Minj SJ, P.P.
Catholic Church, Belwa
Vill. Ramnatola, P.O. Belwa
Dt. Purnea - Bihar
History
Belwa Mission is bifurcated from the Cathedral Parish. This new mission covers five mass centers: Belwa, Bansbari, Dhansar, Sapni and Jhaweli come under Purnea East Block in Purnea District. The Jesuit Provincial visited the spot in January 2016 with the Local Ordinary. Fr. Silas Toppo SJ was appointed as Father In Charge, Belwa on 1st June 2016 and he was regularly visiting from Navjeevan Residence at Baghmara and later the priests started to reside in Belwa mission.
Bisunpur
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Catholic Church, Dira-Bisunpur
P.O. Dohri-Bisunpur, Via. Dhamdaha
Dt. Purnea, Bihar
History
The Catholic Faith began in this area since 1925. They call themselves the first Christians of Purnea. The lack of education and communication hampered their life situation. Till 27th May 2001 it was part of Satmi Parish. Now, with a resident priest in Bisunpur became an independent parish. The Lay Sisters of the Disciples work and help in all pastoral and social activities of the parish. The agreement between the Congregation of the Teresian Carmelites (CTC), Bhagalpur and the Diocese of Purnea was made on 4th November 2020.
Dumar Mission
St. Joseph
19 March
- Fr. George Kerketta, Administrator
- Fr. Tarcisius Tirkey, Co-Pastor & Principal
St. Joseph's Mission
P.O. Dumar
Dt. Katihar-854 104, Bihar
History
The land for the new mission was purchased at Dumar in Katihar by Bishop Vincent Barwa in 2004. Later another small plot was added in 2005. There are Santhal and Oraon tribes in surrounding villages. Bishop Angelus Kujur, S.J. inaugurated the mission on 25th May 2009 and eventually St. Joseph's School was inaugurated on 6th July 2009. The FCC Sisters came forward to collaborate with the Diocese in this new mission from July 2009.
Golabari
Our Lady of Rosary
7 October
- Fr. Robert Tigga, P.P.
- Fr. William Minj, Co-Pastor
Catholic Church, Golabari
P.O. Khawaspur, Forbesganj
Dt. Araria-854 318 (Bihar)
History
From 1994 to 2003, 9 Ac. 92 Dms land was bought. It was considered sufficient for a mission in the beginning stage. There was no construction at all. Rev. Fr. Suman Hemrom started working in a virgin land with few Catholic communities around him. Now there is a priest residence and a church for public worship.
Gopalpur
Little Flower of Christ Jesus
1 October
- Fr. Herman Soreng, P.P.
- Fr. Roshan Surin, Co-Pastor
Little Flower of Child Jesus Catholic Church
Cenga Gopalpur, Mohuar, P.O.
Dt. Katihar-854 105
History
The first family was baptized in 1967 by the Parish Priest of Purnea. Some land was acquired in 1982. A school and convent were built in 1986. The Sisters of Mary Immaculate arrived in 1987 and started a primary school and dispensary. The church and the priests' residence were blessed on 3rd March 1993. A priest took up residence here in May 1993. In recent years to make of a self-reliant parish more land is bought. Neema Village has a little school since 2000, a hope of the future.
Katihar
Holy Archangel
28 September
- Fr. Davis Veliyan SDB, P.P.
- Fr. Mohan Mondal SDB, Co-Pastor
St. Michael's Catholic Church
Girja Colony, Katihar P.O. & Dt.
Bihar- 854 105
Phone: (06452) 231343
History
This important railway junction formed part of Purnea Parish and was visited regularly from Purnea. A church was built in 1940, with an attached room for the visiting priest on the land acquired from the Railway. On 14th February 1972, Katihar was made a sector of Purnea Parish and it was established as a quasi-parish on 31st May 1980, with a resident priest. Katihar was established as a parish on 26th April 1987, and on 22nd January 1990, it was entrusted to the Salesian Congregation.
Kishanganj
St. Francis Xavier
3 December
- Fr. Stephen Murmu, P.P. & Hostel In Charge
- Fr. Ajay Gabriel Tirkey, Co-Pastor & H.M.
Sacred Heart, Catholic Church, Ruidhasa
Kishanganj P.O. & Dt.
Bihar-855 107
Phone: (06456) 223846
History
On 18th October 1979, a property with a bungalow was bought here. A priest resided here for different periods. The Daughters of St. Anne (Ranchi) came on 18th June 1980 to collaborate with the Diocese in the mission work. In June 1983, it was established as a mission station with a resident priest. In 2004 St. Xavier's English Med. School was blessed and inaugurated by Bishop Vincent Barwa on 27th March 2004. The long-cherished desire to start a Minor Seminary in the Diocese was materialized on 5th July 2008.
Munsibari
St. Thomas
3 July
- Fr. Mathias Tete, P.P. & H.M.
- Fr. Ajay Kerketta, Hostel In Charge
St. Thomas Catholic Church
Tarbana, Munsibari
P.O. Gulabbagh, Dt. Purnea
Bihar – 854 326
History
The land was bought from Purnea in 1993-94. The priests started to reside from 2nd February 1999. The kindergarten has taken a shape of a high school. The area of this mission is covered with the Oraon tribal population. The Franciscan Clarist Sisters arrived at Munsibari on 14th April, 2002. They work in the pastoral, educational and health fields. There are hostel facilities for both the boys and the girls, looked after by priests and sisters respectively.
Raniganj
St. Stephen
26 December
- Fr. Alexius Kullu, P.P.
- Fr. Suman Hemrom, Co-Pastor
Catholic Church, Barhara
P.O. Indorepur Barhara
Via Raniganj, Dt. Araria-854 334
History
In 1986 land was acquired about 47kms northwest of Purnea close to Raniganj Block in Araria Dist. A school and a convent were built and in 1988 the Ursuline Sisters arrived. The church and priests' residence were blessed on 21st January 1989. Since January 1990, a priest was residing here. Since 1997 two resident priests look after the pastoral needs of the area. In 2002, the Diocese bought more land for the further development at Gola Bari.
Satmi
Our Lady of Lourdes
10 February
- Fr. Benjamin Minj, P.P.
- Fr. Patras Hansda (Sr.), Co-Pastor & Hostel In Charge
- Fr. Patras Hansda (Jr.), Co-Pastor & H.M.
Catholic Church, Satmi
P.O. Bansi Purandaha
Via Dhamdaha
Dt. Purnea-854 205
History
For a number of years the Fathers from Purnea regularly visited this place about 37 kms west of Purnea. During the Marian Year on 22nd February 1954, a chapel was blessed here, a gift from the late Mr. T. Williams of Purnea. On 11th February 1987, a primary school was blessed. A priest had been in residence here since 1986. Bishop S.M. Tiru blessed a spacious church and presbytery on 20th January 1989. The primary school has been upgraded up to high school.
Tapu Mission
St. Teresa of Kolkata
5 September
- Fr. Stephen Kerketta, In-Charge
Catholic Mission, Tapu
P.O. Mangura, Via Bahadurganj
Dt. Kishanganj-855 104, Bihar
History
The land for the new mission was purchased at Tapu in Kishanganj District on 28th December 2006. The existing building structure was properly renovated and built within a short period of time. As the new Bishop Angelus Kujur, S.J. was consecrated on 18th April 2007, he immediately appointed Fr. Joachim Tete as In-Charge of this new mission on 15th June 2007. The faithful in the area are catered well with the residential priests in Tapu. This mission area was part of Kishanganj Parish.
Thakurganj
St. Francis of Assisi
4 October
- Fr. John Horo TOR, P.P.
- Fr. Sumit Tigga TOR
St. Francis of Assisi Church
Catholic Church, Changmari
P.O. Thakurganj
Dt. Kishanganj-855 116
History
In January 1991, land was acquired here and a mud-walled hut was put up which served as a multi-purpose hall for church services, for a dispensary and for classes. Since Thakurganj is on the northern part of Kishanganj, the TOR Fathers from Adhikari in the neighbouring diocese looked after the area since May, 1992. The Franciscan Clarist Sisters are working in the school, dispensary and in the pastoral field. A new school building and a hostel for boys were built by Father Augustine, T.O.R. and Bishop Vincent blessed it on 20th November 1999.