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Diocese of Daltonganj

Bishop: Most Rev. Theodore Mascarenhas sfx (2024, January 11)

Bishop's House,
Station Road, Daltenganj-822101,
Palamau Dt., Jharkhand, India

Phone: (06562)227.349
Email: theobib@gmail.com

Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas was born on Nov. 9, 1960, in Camurlim in the archdiocese of Goa. He was ordained priest on April 24, 1988. After his ordination, he has served in Punjab in North India till 1993. From 1994 to 2001, he was in Rome to secure the licentiate and doctorate at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He was the coordinator of the works of the Society of Pilar in Rome from 1998 to 2004. In 2005, he was made the superior delegate for the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier in Europe and in 2006, an official of the Pontifical Council for Culture.

On Dec. 8, 2021, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Daltonganj, India.


Previous Ordinaries:

  • Bishop Anand Jojo (7 Jul 2016 to 8 Dec 2021)

  • Gabriel Kujur (1997-2016 (Resigned))

  • Bishop Charles Soreng, S.J. (Oct. 30, 1989, Appointed - April 1, 1995 Appointed, Bishop of Hazaribag)

  • Bishop George Victor Saupin, S.J. (June 5, 1971, Appointed - Nov. 30, 1987, Appointed, Bishop of Bhagalpur)


In a land area of 12,950 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers the civil districts of Palamau, Garhwa, and Latehar in Jharkhand state.

The district headquarter of Daltonganj has taken the name from Colonel Dalton who was the commissioner of Chotanagpur in 1861. The main towns are: Barwadih, Chandwa, Deorikalan, Hussainabad, Latehar and Netarhat. Daltonganj is famous for its wildlife sanctuary. World's first tiger census was conducted in the Palamau forests in 1932.


Population

The 2,459,950 people in the diocesan area belong mainly to the ethnic groups of Munda, and Oraons, besides Muslims and Hindus.


Language

Languages used in the diocesan territory are Hindi, Mundari, Oraon, Sadri and other tribal languages.


History

The diocese of Daltonganj was part of Ranchi archdiocese. It was constituted as a separate diocese in 1971 and Father George V. Sauipn, SJ,  was selected as the first bishop. For the better pastoral care of the faithful, the diocese of Hazaribagh was established with the territory taken from the Daltonganj diocese on May 12, 1995.

Transportation

National Highway 75 passes through Daltonganj diocese.


Economy

The annual per capita income in the diocesan territory is Rs.23 361 ($518) as of December 2010.

Major industries are coal mines and bauxite.

Agricultural products are: maize, wheat and oil seeds.


Telecommunication

The diocese is served by TV and radio stations.

People use mobile phones and landlines.


Education

The literacy rate is 51 percent in the diocesan area.


Culture

Jharkhand has ebullient festivals like Sarhul, Sohrai, Karma, Christmas, Eid, Holi and Dussehra. Folk music and dances are part and parcel of the tribal culture.