Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Bijnor
Encyclopedia
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Bijnor is a Syro-Malabar Catholic
diocese in Uttarakhand
, India
. Its current bishop is the Most Rev. John Vadakel, of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
(CMI) (born 17 August 1943), who was ordained bishop 22 October 2009.
With an area of 30,664 square kilomers, this diocese has 46 Mission Stations, 25 Schools, 16 Health Centres and Dispensaries and 5 Boarding Houses. Personnel include 50 Priests, 189 Religious Sisters, and 28 Diocesan Brothers.
. Rev. Fr Gratian Mundadan CMI was appointed the Apostolic Exarch. The Apostolic exarchate of Bijnor was bifurcated from the diocese of Meerut. It consisted of the civil districts of Bijnor
(excluding the tehsil
of Dhampur
), Pauri
, Tehri
, Uttarkashi
and Chamoli of the then state of Uttar Pradesh
. Later the district of Haridwar
was created taking parts of Bijnor and Saharanpur, and the district of Rudraprayag was created by dividing the district of Pauri. In 2000, when the new state of Uttarakhand was created, the districts of Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Haridwar became part of the new state. At present the eparchy of Bijnor consists of a part of the district of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh and districts of Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri, Uttarkashi and a part of Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
Pope Paul VI raised the apostolic exarchate of Bijnor to an eparchy by the papal bull Quae cum Romano on 26 February 1977, and Apostolic Exarch Gratian Mundadan CMI was appointed its first Bishop.
25 July 1972 - Fr Gratian Mundadan CMI took charge as the Apostolic Exarch of Bijnor.
26 February 1977- Erection of the Diocese of Bijnor by the Papal Bull Quae Cum Romano of Pope Paul VI. Nomination of Apostolic Exarch Gratian Mundadan CMI as the first Bishop of Bijnor.
6 November 1977 - Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan CMI.
8 December 1977 - Enthronement of Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan CMI as the first Bishop of Bijnor.
18 May 1981 - Death of 10 Missionaries in road accident at Satpuli.
24 June 1984 - Inauguration of the Diocesan Minor Seminary.
19 April 1988 - Priestly ordination of Fr James Thekkekaithackal, the first diocesan priest.
26 January 1997 - Death of Fr Peter Moothedan in road accident at Nawada (Bijnor).
5 December 2001 - Foundation stone laid for t Joseph’s Cathedral, Kotdwar.
17 February 2002 - Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Diocese and the Episcopal ordination of Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan.
19 November 2002 - Blessing of UJALA: The Diocesan Pastoral Centre.
17 October 2006 - Death of Fr Mathew Parackal, the Protosyncellus of the Diocese, at Bijnor.
4 June 2008 - Priestly Ordination of Fr Francis Paul Masih, the first local priest of the diocese.
14 August 2009 - Nomination of Fr John Vadakel CMI as the second Bishop of Bijnor.
22 October 2009 - Episcopal ordination and enthronement of Most Rev. John Vadakel CMI.
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...
diocese in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Its current bishop is the Most Rev. John Vadakel, of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate is an religious order for men in the Syro-Malabar Church. It is the first Catholic religious congregation founded in India. The first monastery of the order was established on 11 May 1831 at Mannanam, Kerala, India...
(CMI) (born 17 August 1943), who was ordained bishop 22 October 2009.
With an area of 30,664 square kilomers, this diocese has 46 Mission Stations, 25 Schools, 16 Health Centres and Dispensaries and 5 Boarding Houses. Personnel include 50 Priests, 189 Religious Sisters, and 28 Diocesan Brothers.
History
The diocese of Bijnor was originally an Apostolic Exarchate, created on 23 March 1972 by the Papal Bull Beatorum Apostolorum of Pope Paul VIPope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. Rev. Fr Gratian Mundadan CMI was appointed the Apostolic Exarch. The Apostolic exarchate of Bijnor was bifurcated from the diocese of Meerut. It consisted of the civil districts of Bijnor
Bijnor
Bijnor variously spelt as Bijnaur and Bijnour, is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India...
(excluding the tehsil
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
of Dhampur
Dhampur
Dhampur is a city and a municipal board in Bijnor district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.- Geography :The neighboring villages are Mirzapur PallaDittanpur Jaitra, Bari Mandi, Nindru, Naurangabad, Purana Dhampur, Sherkot, Suhagpur, Bholarampur, Alavalpur, Mohammadpur Sultan,Puraini,Morna...
), Pauri
Pauri
Pauri is a city and a municipal board in Pauri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.-Geography:Pauri is located at...
, Tehri
Tehri
Tehri is a city and a municipal board in Tehri Garhwal District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative seat of Tehri Garhwal District.-History:...
, Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi, meaning Kashi of the north, is a holy town in Uttarakhand, India. It is the district headquarter of Uttarkashi district. Uttarkashi is situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1352 m above sea level. Uttarkashi is home to a number of ashrams and temples and also to...
and Chamoli of the then state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Later the district of Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
was created taking parts of Bijnor and Saharanpur, and the district of Rudraprayag was created by dividing the district of Pauri. In 2000, when the new state of Uttarakhand was created, the districts of Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Haridwar became part of the new state. At present the eparchy of Bijnor consists of a part of the district of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh and districts of Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri, Uttarkashi and a part of Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
Pope Paul VI raised the apostolic exarchate of Bijnor to an eparchy by the papal bull Quae cum Romano on 26 February 1977, and Apostolic Exarch Gratian Mundadan CMI was appointed its first Bishop.
Diocese timeline
23 March 1972 - Erection of Apostolic Exarchate of Bijnor by the papal bull Beatorum Apostolorum of Pope Paul VI. Nomination of Fr Gratian Mundadan CMI as the Apostolic Exarch.25 July 1972 - Fr Gratian Mundadan CMI took charge as the Apostolic Exarch of Bijnor.
26 February 1977- Erection of the Diocese of Bijnor by the Papal Bull Quae Cum Romano of Pope Paul VI. Nomination of Apostolic Exarch Gratian Mundadan CMI as the first Bishop of Bijnor.
6 November 1977 - Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan CMI.
8 December 1977 - Enthronement of Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan CMI as the first Bishop of Bijnor.
18 May 1981 - Death of 10 Missionaries in road accident at Satpuli.
24 June 1984 - Inauguration of the Diocesan Minor Seminary.
19 April 1988 - Priestly ordination of Fr James Thekkekaithackal, the first diocesan priest.
26 January 1997 - Death of Fr Peter Moothedan in road accident at Nawada (Bijnor).
5 December 2001 - Foundation stone laid for t Joseph’s Cathedral, Kotdwar.
17 February 2002 - Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Diocese and the Episcopal ordination of Most Rev. Gratian Mundadan.
19 November 2002 - Blessing of UJALA: The Diocesan Pastoral Centre.
17 October 2006 - Death of Fr Mathew Parackal, the Protosyncellus of the Diocese, at Bijnor.
4 June 2008 - Priestly Ordination of Fr Francis Paul Masih, the first local priest of the diocese.
14 August 2009 - Nomination of Fr John Vadakel CMI as the second Bishop of Bijnor.
22 October 2009 - Episcopal ordination and enthronement of Most Rev. John Vadakel CMI.