Roman Catholic Diocese of Rourkela


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rourkela is a diocese located in the city of Rourkela in the Ecclesiastical province of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in India.

History

The new diocese of Rourkela is bounded on the north by Archdiocese of Ranchi and on the South by the diocese of Sambalpur to the west and the north-west lies the diocese of Raigarh, while the diocese of Jamshedpur and Balasore lie to the east and South-East.
Jesuit Missionaries began evangelization of this part of the Chotanagpur Mission, Fr Constant Livens being the most prominent among them. After the Second World War, the Jesuits faced two major problems - personnel and finance. They, therefore, requested the Divine Word Missionaries who had been working in the neighbouring states of Central India since 1932, to take up the Gangpur Mission in Northern Orissa. The SVDs set their feet in this mission land in 1948. The Late Bishop Herman Westermann, SVD, who had several years of experience in Central India, was ordained the first Bishop of Sambalpur in 1951. During his tenure as well as that of Bishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD, mission work in this ecclesiastical territory progressed in leaps and bounds.
Rt. Rev. Alphonse Billung, S.V.D. was appointed the first Bishop of Rourkela on November 3, 1979. Today the Diocese of Rourkela owes a lot to the relentless zeal and indefatigable labour of these eminent personalities, and their co - Missionaries - Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Lay people, generous benefactors and all well-wishers.

Leadership

Statistical Overview
Area: 9675 km2.
Total Population: 19,25,000
Catholics: 2,72,453
Personal
Bishop: 1
Retired Bishop: 1
Diocesan Priests :85
Religious Priests: 96
Religious Brother: 250
Religious Sisters: 421
Seminarians: 25
Parishes
Total Number of Parishes: 42
Institutes
Ecclesiastical/Formation Centers: 12
Junior Colleges:5
High Schools:5
Middle Schools:1
Primary Schools:151
Vocational Training Centers: 4

Parishes

There are 42 parishes in the Diocese of Rourkela.
  1. Ambapani Parish, St Joseph Church
  2. Barilapta Parish, St Marys Church
  3. Barsuan Parish, St Thomas Church
  4. Birmitrapur Parish, St Paul's Church
  5. Bonaigarh Parish, Prabhu Prakash Church
  6. Bondamunda Parish, Good Shepherd Church
  7. Deonapara Parish, St Francis Xavier Church
  8. Gaibira Parish, St Ignatius Church
  9. Ghoghea Parish, St John the Baptist Church
  10. Gomardih Parish, St Marys Church
  11. Hamirpur Parish, Sacred Heart Cathedral
  12. Harasmara Parish, St Francis of Assisi Church
  13. Hemgir Parish, St Francis Xavier Church
  14. Jhirpani parish, Immaculate Conception Church
  15. Jhorabahal Parish, Holy Trinity Church
  16. Jhunmur Parish, St Marys Church
  17. Jolda Parish, Christ The King Church
  18. Kahuchuan Parish, St Marys Church
  19. Kahupani Parish,St Marys Church
  20. Kalunga Parish,Risen Christ Church
  21. KansbahalParish,St Joseph The Worker Church
  22. Kantapali Parish, Holy Family Church
  23. Kesramal Parish, St Francis Xavier Church
  24. Kirelega Parish, St Marys Church
  25. Koira Parish, St Francis Assisi Church
  26. Kuarmunda Parish, St John Bosco Church
  27. Kusumdegi Parish, Our Lady Assumed into Heaven
  28. Nuagaon Parish, All Saints Church
  29. Pankadih Parish, Catholic Church
  30. Pandrepali Parish, St. Francis De Sales Church
  31. Phalsa Parish, St Thomas Church
  32. Raidih Parish, St Peters Church
  33. Rajgangpur Parish, St Marys Church
  34. Salangabahal Parish, St Thomas The Apostle Church
  35. Saunamara Parish, Jagat Mata Church
  36. Siabahal Parish, St Vincent Palloti Church
  37. Sikajor Parish, St Joseph Church
  38. Singarmunda Parish, St Marys Church
  39. Sundargarh Parish, St Marys Church
  40. Tangrain parish, St Francis Xavier Church
  41. Telendih Parish, St Josephs Church
  42. Thakurpali Parish, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church

    Religious Congregation working in the diocese

Religious Men

  1. Congregation of Rosarian
  2. Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
  3. Missionaries of Saint Francis De Sales
  4. Order of Friars Minor Capuchins
  5. Society of Mary
  6. Society of St Francis De Sales
  7. Society of the Catholic Apostolate
  8. Society of the Divine Word
  9. Third Order Regular of St. Francis

    Religious Brothers

  10. Missionaries of Charity Brothers
  11. Missionaries of the Poor

    Religious Sisters

  12. Apostolic Carmel
  13. Carmelite Missionaries
  14. Congregation of Sisters of St Joseph of Chambéry
  15. Daughters of the Cross
  16. Franciscan Sisters of St Mary of the Angels
  17. Handmaids of Mary
  18. Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  19. Missionaries of Charity
  20. Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate
  21. Missionary Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles
  22. Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit
  23. Saint Joseph Sevika Sanstha
  24. Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross
  25. Sisters of St Joseph of Lyon
  26. Sisters of St Joseph of Saint-Marc
  27. Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk