Roman Catholic Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh

The Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh (Latin: Dioecesis Simlensis et Chandigarhensis ) is a Roman Catholic diocese based in Simla, India.

History

Pope John XXIII. founded the bishopric of Simla with the Apostolic Constitution indicae genti on June 4, 1959 by cleavage of the Archdiocese of Delhi and Simla, where it was assumed as a suffragan.

By a decree of Propaganda Fide on 12 May 1964, adopted the present name.

Territory

The diocese comprises the districts of Balasore:

  • Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti and, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh;
  • Panchkula, Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Jinde, Hisar, Bhiwani and Sirsa in Haryana;
  • Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib and Rupnagar, Punjab;
  • And the union territory of Chandigarh.

Ordinaries

Bishop of Simla

  • John Burke (4 June 1959-12. May 1964 )

Bishops of Simla and Chandigarh

  • John Burke (12 May 1964-3. August 1966 )
  • Alfred Fernández (April 13, 1967-25. June 1970, then Bishop of Allahabad )
  • Gilbert Blaize Rego (11 March 1971-10. November 1999)
  • Gerald John Mathias ( 22 December 1999-8. November 2007, then Bishop of Lucknow )
  • Ignatius Loyola Mascarenhas ( since 10 February 2009)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi Vicar general Friar Hindi Districts of India
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