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The Diocese of Jullundur

The Diocese of Jullundur comprises the civil districts of Amritsar, Faridkot, Fazilka,

Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Moga, Muktsar, Nawanshahar, Nangal and Anandpur Sahib Tehsils of Ropar, Pathankot, Tarn Taran in the Punjab and Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra and Una in Himachal Pradesh.

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History

Until the Partition of 1947, this area was part of the Diocese of Lahore, looked after by the Capuchin missionaries of the Belgian Province. On January 17, 1952, the Apostolic Prefecture of Jalandhar was created by the Apostolic Constitution “Inter Ceteras Curas” of Pope Pius XII. It was entrusted to the British Province of the Capuchins, and Msgr. Francis Alban Swarbrick OFM Cap., was made the Prefect.

 

Pope Paul VI raised the Prefecture of Jullundur to the status of Diocese on December 6, 1971, by the Apostolic Bull, “Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam”, and Rt. Rev. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap., was appointed its first Bishop.

 

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rt. Rev. Dr. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto as successor on Feb. 24, 2007 and he was installed on April 15, 2007 as Bishop of Jullundur. He was transferred to Delhi as Archbishop on November 30, 2012 and continued as Apostolic Administrator till the appointment of Rt. Rev. Dr. Franco Mulakkal as the Bishop of Jalandhar on June 13, 2013 by Pope Francis. His installation took place on August 4, 2013 at the Trinity College grounds, Jalandhar.

 

On his request Bp. Franco Mulakkal was relieved from the Administration of the Diocese and Bp. Agnelo Rufino Gracias, the Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay was appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Jalandhar, sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis with effect on September 20, 2018. He took the charge as the Apostolic Administrator on October 8, 2018.

 

On June 01, 2023, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Franco Mulakkal as the Bishop of Jullundur and Appointed Bp. Agnelo Rufino Gracias, the Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay and presently the the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Jalandhar, sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Jalandhar, sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae vacante.

Landmarks

1952
Jalandhar Prefecture Apostolic Established
  • Jalandhar was erected as a Prefecture Apostolic in 1952 and was entrusted for development to the British Capuchin Province.
  • The Holy See appointed Fr. Alban Swarbrick OFM Cap., who was serving in Delhi, as the first Prefect Apostolic.
1971
Diocese Status Conferred
  • The Prefecture was raised to the status of a Diocese on December 6, 1971 by the Apostolic Bull “Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam”, Pope Paul VI and Rt. Rev. Msgr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap., of the Indian Province of the Capuchins with its headquarters in Kerala, was appointed its first Bishop.
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap was appointed its first Bishop.
1972
Consecration of Bishop Keeprath
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap was consecrated as bishop on 18th March 1972 at St. Francis School Grounds, Amritsar and was installed on 22 March 1972 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jalandhar Cantt.
1983
Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee
  • Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap
1997
Silver Jubilee
  • Silver Jubilee of the Diocese & the Episcopal Silver Jubilee of Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap
2006
Bishop Keeprath's Legacy
  • Bishop Symphorian Keeprath served the Diocese for the next 35 years and saw to its steady growth on all fronts. The number of faithful increased from 15,000 in 1972 to 1,15,000 in 2006.
2007
Succession of Bishop Keeprath
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap gives his resignation, due to his reaching the canonical age of retirement, was accepted by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on February 24, 2007.
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Delhi, was appointed as his successor. He was installed as the second Bishop of Jalandhar on April 15, 2007 at the Cathedral in Jalandhar Cantt.
2008
Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee
  • Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap
2009
Diocesan Synod
  • First Diocesan Synod was held.
2013
Transition in Leadership
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto is appointed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Delhi. He continued as the Apostolic Administrator of Jalandhar till the installation of Most. Rev. Dr. Franco Mulakkal as the third Bishop of Jalandhar.
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Franco Mulakkal is appointed as the third Bishop of Jalandhar on June 13, 2013.
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Franco Mulakkal is installed as the third Bishop of Jalandhar on August 4, 2013.
2015
Passing of Bishop Keeprath
  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Symphorian Keeprath OFM Cap, the first bishop of the diocese was called back to the Lord for his eternal reward on May 3, 2015. His mortal remains were laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jalandhar Cantt., on May 9, 2015 in a solemn celebration of the funeral rites attended by several ecclesiastical and civil dignitaries.
2018
Transition in Administration
  • Rt. Most Rev. Franco Mulakkal requests His Holiness Pope Francis to relieve him temporarily from the administration of the Diocese. His request was accepted and he was relieved of the administration of the diocese on 20th September 2018.
  • Bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias was appointed Apostolic Administrator, Sede Plena, of the Diocese of Jalandhar, with effect from September 20, 2018.
  • Bishop Agnelo Gracias officially took the charge as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Jalandhar during the Eucharistic Celebration on October 8, 2018.
2021
Golden Jubilee Celebration
  • Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Diocese
2023
Resignation of Bishop Mulakkal
  • Resignation of Bishop Franco Mulakkal as the 3rd Bishop of Jalandhar on June 01, 2023.
  • Bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias was appointed Apostolic Administrator, Sede Plena et ad nutum Sanctae vacante of the Diocese of Jalandhar, with immediate effect.

Map of the Diocese

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