Former Prelates Of Ranchi

1. Louis Van Hoeck, S.J.(Appointed 15 Feb 1928 - Died 30 Apr 1933)

Rt. Rev. Louis Van Hoeck was born at Antwerp in Belgium on April 17, 1870. He was the third of seven children. As he grew up, he decided to become a missionary. With this in mind he joined the Jesuit Novitiate in Drongen on September 23, 1889. Three years later, on November 9, 1892, he arrived at Calcutta from where Fr. C. Lievens, broken in health, had left only some two months earlier. Van Hoeck spent the next fifteen years in teaching and studying. He was ordained at Kurseong on October 4, 1903. On completing his tertianship in November 1907, he was assigned to Kurdeg, first as Assistant   , then as Parish Priest. From  1909 to 1919 he was diocesan inspector of schools and did much for the development of St. John’s Ranchi at the center of   the  entire educational network of the mission. After a year and a half at Tongo he was appointed the first Bishop of Patna on July 20, 1920. He was   consecrated at Ranchi on March 6, 1921. When Bishop of Patna, he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. On May 25, 1927 Ranchi   Diocese was created and Mgr. L. Van Hoeck on February 15, 1928 received the news that he was made its first Bishop. He was installed on June 30, 1928.   He did much for the new diocese. He promoted general education and vocational training. He planned the new seminary buildings. He created new   parishes. By May 1032 he was suffering from cancer. He died on April 30, 1933, aged 63. 

2. Oscar Sevrin, S.J.  (Appointed 9 Apr 1934 - 13 Dec 1951

Rt. Rev. Oscar Sevrin was born at La Neuville near Stavelot in Belgium on November 22, 1884. During his secondary studies at St. Roch’s school he became acquainted with the “Lievens Mission” in Ranchi and wanted to join it. With that intention he joined the Jesuits Novitiate at Arlon on September 23, 1903. After further studies at Drongen, Louvain, and Kandy he entered the mission field on October 31, 1908. He worked as a teacher, first for two years at Rengarih, then for five years at St. John’s Ranchi. During his theology course at Kurseong he was ordained priest on July 1, 1919. Two years he was again assigned to St. John’s (till 1932). From 1924 till 1934 he was also inspector of schools. For some years he edited the ‘Nishkalanka’ monthly. On July 25, 1934 he was consecrated Bishop of Ranchi. On December 13, 1951, he became the first Bishop the new Diocese of Raigarh-Ambikapur, leaving Ranchi to its first indigenous Bishop Mgr. Nicholas Kujur. In 1957 he did a repeat performance and Mgr. Stanislaus Tigga became his successor when he retired at age 73. He continued to assist the Diocese from nearby Loyola High School in a subordinate capacity for another 18 years. He died on April 30, 1975, and was buried in the Kunkuri Cathedral.

3. Nicolas Kujur, S.J. (Appointed 13 Dec 1951 - Died 25 Jul 1960)

Most Rev. Nicholas Kujur was born at Bandipahar in Rengarih on September 7, 1898. He was the eldest of three children and the only son. After completing his primary education at Rengarih he was enrolled at St. John’s Ranchi in 1912 and joined the apostolic school in 1915 with the idea of becoming a priest. In 1919 he passed his metric and entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Shembaganur. There he also completed his classical and philosophical studies. In 1924 he returned to St. John’s Ranchi for a two years’ period of regency. After that he was sent to Louvain for his Theology Course, towards the end of which he was ordained a priest there by Ranchi Bishop Mgr. L. Van Hoeck on August 24, 1930. On his return to Ranchi he did his tertianship at Manresa House and then was appointed lecturer in Theology and Canon Law at St. Albert’ Major Seminary Ranchi. Years later he was made Rector of Manresa House and Headmaster of St. John’s, where under his protection the new born St. Xavier’s College was given shelter in 1944. In 1948 he became Vicar General of Bishop Oscar Sevrin whose successor he became when on March 9, 1952 he was consecrated Bishop of Ranchi, which on September 19, 1953 was raised to the status of an Archdiocese with Sambalpur and Cuttack as Suffragans. He was the first Tribal Bishop/Archbishop in India. He did much for the development of the Church in these parts. He died in Brussels on July 24, 1960. He lies buried in the Ranchi Cathedral.

4. Pius Kerketta, S.J. (Appointed 7 Mar 1961 - Retired 7 Aug 1985 

Most Rev. Pius Kerketta was born at Pithra in Biru on March 3, 1910. He did his secondary studied at St. John’s Ranchi. When he applied for admission to the Society of Jesus, he was sent to Shembaganur in the Palni Hills, where he joined the Novitiate on June 2, 1930, and took his vows on June 3, 1932. He completed his classical and philosophical studies at Shembaganur’s Sacred Heart College by the end of 1937. After three years of regency, first at Ranchi, then at Gumla, he was sent to Kurseong for  the four years Course in Theology. He was ordained priest on November 21, 1943. After his tertianship he was appointed lecturer in philosophy at St. Albert’s Major Seminary, Ranchi. But from 1947 to 1954 he was Headmaster, first of St. John’s Ranchi, then of St. Ignatius Gumla. On January 1955, he was made Vicar General of Archbishop Nicholas Kujur. After the latter’s death, Pius Kerketta was elected Vicar Capitular on July 28, 1960. He was appointed Archbishop of Ranchi on March 8, 1961. He was consecrated in Rome by Pope John XXIII on May 21, 1961 and installed in Ranchi on June 27, 1961. He participated in all the four sessions of the Second Vatican council (1962-1965). He guided the Archdiocese for nearly a quarter century till his retirement on August 25, 1985, to the Hulhundu Clergy House, from where he continued to render service whenever called upon. He died at Mandar on May 21, 1993, the 32^nd anniversary of his Episcopal consecration.

5. Cardinal Telesphore Toppo  (Appointed  Archbishop of Ranchi from 1985 to 2018. )

Archbishop Telesphore Placidus Cardinal Toppo was born on Oct. 15, 1939 at Jhargaon in Gumla diocese, Jharkhand state in Eastern India and was ordained a priest on May 3, 1969. He was apponited Bishop of Dumka on June 8, 1978 and was ordained a Bishop on Oct. 7, 1978. He became Coadjutor Archbishop of Ranchi on Nov. 8, 1984 and succeeded as Archbishop of Ranchi on Aug. 3, 1985. He was elevated to Cardinal on Oct. 21, 2003.

Other positions he holds in national and international Church offices are Chairman of the Jharkhand Bishops and Major Superiors Forum, Chairman of the Regional Bishops' Council, and Chancellor of the Faculty of Theology, Ranchi, Member of the Bishops Friends of the Focolare Movement, Member of the Pontifical Council for Culture, member of the Pontifical Council for Inter Religious Dialogue, Member of the finance vigilance commission. He was also served as President of Catholic Bishops' conference of India for two-terms.
On 24 Jun 2018, he retired. He died on 4th October, 2023 and buried on 11 October 2023 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Ranchi

6. Vincent Barwa  (Appointed  Auxiliary Bishop from 2004- 2008

Bishop Vincent Barwa was born on Oct. 18, 1953, in a small village of Rengarih, Simdeha district of Jharkhand state. He was ordained priest on May 2, 1984. He was appointed bishop of Purnea on June 29, 1998, and was ordained bishop on Nov. 8, 1998. On Sept 9, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bshop of Ranchi. Pope Benedict XVI nominated him bishop of Simdega on Feb. 11, 2008.

7. Binay Kandulna appointed Auxiliary Bishop in February 2009 –  30 Nov, 2014

Bishop Binay Kandulna was born on Jan. 3, 1964, in Gondra. He was ordained priest on April 23, 1994. He was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Ranchi archdiocese on Feb. 11, 2009. His episcopal ordination took place on May 1, 2009. He was appointed bishop of Kunti on Nov. 30, 2012. The diocese had been vacant since the death of Bishop Stephen M. Tiru in March 2012.

8. Telesphore Bilung SVD  appointed Auxiliary Bishop in 2014 – 1 Nov. 2021

Bishop Bilung was born on April 15, 1961, at Sargidipa in the diocese of Rourkela, Odisha. He attended primary school and middle school in Gaibira.
In 1979, he joined the Jyoti Bhavan minor Seminary in Sambalpur. In 1985, he entered the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). He professed his first vows in 1986. He was ordained priest on May 2, 1992, in Gaibira. Between 1986 and 1992, Bishop Bilung completed his studies in philosophy and theology at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeth in Pune.
After his ordination, Bishop Bilung served as assistant parish in Puri from 1992 to 1994 and as rector of the Minor Seminary in Sambalpur from 1994 to 1996. Since 2011, Bishop Bilung has been the provincial superior of the Divine Word Missionaries.
On June 20, 2019, Bishop Bilung was appointed as apostolic administrator of Jamshedpur.
On Nov 1, 2021, Pope Francis appointed Rev. Telesphore Bilung as Bishop of Jamshedpur.

Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ (Appointed Archbishop of Ranchi in 2018- 30 Dec. 2023)

Born: 21st November, 1947
Village: Tongo
Parish: Tongo
Diocese: Gumla
State: Jharkhand
Schooling: Primary School and Middle English School: St. Paul’s School, Tongo, High School: St. John’s High School, Ranchi, Intermediate St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi.
College Studies: B.A. (Hons): Hindu College, Delhi (1971-1974) ( In Hindi Subject), M.A. Bombay University (Hindi) (1976-1978), M.A. Gregorian University (Psychology) (1987-1990)
Seminary Studies:
Seminary: Joined SJ- 07 Sept. 1968 (XTTI, Patna), Juniorate: (XTTI, Patna) 1970-1971, Philosophy: Papal Athenaeum, Pune, 1974-1976, Regency: Loyola Candidates’ House, Jamshedpur, 1978-1979, Theology: Papal Athenaeum, Pune, 1979-1982, Ordained: Loyola School, Jamshedpur, 14 th April 1982, Tertianship: St. Stasnislaus College, Sitagarha 1985-1986, Ministries/Appointments: (year wise), 1. Assistant Pastor of St. Tereesa’s Parish, Jhinkpani from May 1982 to May 1983, 2. Director of the Jesuit Pre-novices at Daltanganj from June 1983 to 1985, 3. Socius to the Novice Master in teh Jesuite Novitiate in Jamshedpur from May 1986 to 1987 and May 1990 to April 1991, 4. Novice Master in Jesuit Novitiate in Jamshedpur from June 1991 to 1997, 5. Consultors of the Jesuit Province from June 1992 to July 1997, 6. Superior of Jesu Bhavan, Mango from 1994 to 1997, Bishopric: Bishop of Jamshedpur Elected Bishop of Jamshedpur: 18 th July 1997, Motto : Consecrated Bishop : 27th September, 1997, Promoted to : Archbishop of Ranchi on June 24 th 2018, Installation : On August 6 th 2018
Residence : Archbishop’s House, Purulia Road, Ranchi – 834 001. e-mail : ranchiarchdiocese@gmail.com , felixtoppojsr @gmail.com, Languages : Kurukh, Sadri, Hindi, English, Italian., Foreign visits : Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.S.A, Russia, Israel, Canada, Egypt, Thailand, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey
Offices held:
1. Was Chairman of the Commission of Clergy and religious of the catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI).
2. Was Chairman of the National Vocation Service centre (NVSC), Pune. It is an Institute of the CBCI.
4. Was a Member of the Commission for Vocations, Seminarians, Clergy and Religious.
5. Presently the Chairman of JHAAN Regional Bishops’ Council.
6. Presently the Vice- Chancellor of St. Albert’s College, Ranchi, the Major Seminary of the Region.

Short Summary
His Grace, Most. Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ, was born on 21st November, 1947, in Tongo, Diocese of Gumla. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1968 and was ordained Priest on 14th April, 1982. He obtained a
Masters in Psychology from the Gregorian University, Rome, in 1990. After serving the Jesuit Congregation in various capacities, as Director of Pre-Novices, Novice Master and Superior, he was elected Bishop of Jamshedpur on 18 th July, 1997 and was consecrated on 27th September, 1997.As Bishop, he was the Chairman of the CBCI Office for Clergy and Religious for four years, and of the National Vocation Service Centre, Pune, for four years. At present he is the Governing Body Chairman of the CBCI Society for Medical Education, North India; Chairman of the JHAAN Regional Bishops’ Council and of two Regional Commissions; Vice-Chancellor of St. Albert’s College, Ranchi.

Most Rev. Theodore Mascarenhas SFX ( Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi in 2014 - 2023)

Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX hails from Goa from a small sleepy village called Camurlim, about 7 kilometres from the commercial capital of Goa Margao. He was born on 9th November,1960, in Mumbai. He is the third among four children and he along with his elder brother are both members of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, also known as the Pilar Fathers. His Brother Sebastiao present here is now the Bishop of Baroda. He was ordained priest on 24^th April 1988.  He has held various posts many of them overlapping each other: Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Church, and Vice Principal and Principal of St. Xavier’s High school in Bathinda, Punjab, from 1988 to 1992,  Assistant Parish Priest of the Parish of Nativita’di Maria Santissima, Aprilia in the diocese of Albano, Italy, from 1992 to 1993 Head of the Departments of Asia, Africa and Oceania in the Pontifical Council for Culture from August 2004 to July 2014, a member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Committee from 2009 to 2014, Central Delegate Superior for the European Units of the society of Pilar from 2007 to 2014. He was a visiting Professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, at the Pilar theological College, Goa, and the St. Thomas University, Rome from 2003 to 2014.

He holds a Bachelors Degree in Arts from the Nagpur University and a B. Ed Degree from the Annamalai University in India. He has a Doctorate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome successfully defending and publishing a dissertation with the theme: “The Missionary Function of Israel in Psalms 67, 96 and 117”. He speaks English, Italian, German, French, Hindi, Punjabi and Konkani. He also knows the biblical languages Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Latin and Aramaic.

From 30th August 2014 he is the Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi. He was appointed Secretary General of CBCI, Delhi from 2015-2019. He is also the Chairman of the Commission for Ecology of CBCI and Secretary of JHAAN Regional Bishops’ Council. On 8 December, 2022 he was appointed the apostolic administrator of Daltonganj Diocese and while continuing to look after Ranchi as well as the Daltonganj Diocese.

The See of Daltonganj has been vacant since July 7, 2016 and Bishop Theodore will be the fourth Bishop of this diocese which was established on June 5, 1971.

Bishop Theodore over these nine years has been known for his fearlessness in dealing with issues, speaks boldly in favour of the community. He  has an extraordinary love for our Adivasi people and is there always to help the needy and the poor. His services along with Archbishop Felix Toppo during the Covid Pandemic became famous not only in Jharkhand but were spoken of throughout the country.

God has blessed us with a gentle shepherd, known for Discipline as well as compassion. We look forward to his pastoral care after the absence of a Shepherd form more than 7 and a half years.

Ranchi Archdiocese -Part of Calcutta Archdiocese till 1927