India-3

This blog covers seven ecclesiastic provinces in northwest India.  See my previous blogs about India.

• 6-1-2020—India 1
• 6-6-2020—India 2

The reader should know that most Indian archdioceses have websites in English that may be of interest.

Province of Bombay (Mumbai)

The province consists of part of the civil State of Maharashtra.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bombay began as an apostolic vicariate in 1637 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1886. 

Holy Name Cathedral in Mumbai was completed in 1905 in a Gothic Revival style.  The gray stone church is highly decorated with colorful frescos of yellow and pink geometric designs on a pale green background.  The yellow ceilings depict scenes from the life of Christ.

The first picture is from Pinterest, the second from TripAdvisor and the last two from Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Poona was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1854 and became a diocese in 1886.
• The Diocese of Nashik was created in 1987.
• The Diocese of Vasai was created in 1998.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Kalyan was created in 1988.

Province of Agra

The province consists of the civil States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra began as a Mission sui juris in 1784, became the Apostolic Vicariate of Tibet-Hindustan in 1820, and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agra in 1886. 

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Agra was built in 1848 and designed by an Italian priest/architect.  The floor is paved with white and black marble slabs.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has 11 suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Allahabad was created in 1886.
• The Diocese of Ajmer was created as a Mission sui juris in 1890, became an apostolic prefecture in 1891 and became a diocese in 1913.
• The Diocese of Lucknow was created in 1940.
• The Diocese of Jhansi was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1940 and became a diocese in 1954.
• The Diocese of Meerut was created in 1956.
• The Diocese of Varanasi was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1946 and became a diocese in 1971.
• The Diocese of Udaipur was created in 1984.
• The Diocese of Bareilly was created in 1989.
• The Diocese of Jaipur was created in 2005.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Bijnor was created as an apostolic exarchate in 1972 and became a diocese in 1977.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Gorakhpur was created in 1984.

Province of Delhi

The province consists of the civil States of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana, and the Union Territories of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Chandigarh.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Delhi began as the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Simla in 1910, was renamed Delhi and Simla in 1937, and acquired its current name in 1959. 

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in New Delhi was built in the 1930s.  It was designed by a British architect in an Italian style and financed by British colonial officers.  The main altar is made entirely of marble and has a fresco of the Last Supper behind it.  A facade of white pillars supports the canopy, and on each side of the cathedral's entrance, there are circular arcaded turrets rising above the roof. The interior has a towering curved roof, polished stone floors and broad arches. 

The first three pictures are from Wikipedia and the last is from worthycanvas.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh was created in 1959 as Simla and acquired its current name in 1964.
• The Diocese of Jalandhar was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1952 and became a diocese in 1971.
• The Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1952 and became a diocese in 1986.

Province of Nagpur

The province consists of part of the civil State of Maharashtra.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nagpur became a diocese in 1887 and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1953.

St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Nagpur was built between 1879 and 1886 in a French Gothic style.  The bell towers were added in 1897 and 1909.  A stained glass window depicting St. Francis de Sales was imported from France in 1935.  There is also a replica of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”  The ceiling is inspired by churches in Paris.  See peterherald.blogspot.com.

The first picture is from a local blog, the second from Panaramio, and the third from Wikipedia.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Amravati was created in 1955.
• The Diocese of Aurangabad was created in 1977.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chanda was created as an ordinariate in 1962, became an apostolic exarchate in 1968, and a diocese in 1977.

Province of Bhopal

The province consists of the civil State of Madhya Pradesh.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bhopal was created in 1963. 

The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Bhopal is 150 years old.

Pictures is from a local blog. 

The Province has eight suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Indore was created as a Mission sui juris in 1931, became an apostolic prefecture in 1935 and a diocese in 1952.
• The Diocese of Jabalpur was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1932 and became a diocese in 1954.
• The Diocese of Khandwa was created in 1977.
• The Diocese of Gwalior was created in 1999.
• The Diocese of Jhabua was created in 2002.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Sagar was created as an apostolic exarchate in 1968 and became a diocese in 1977.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Satna was created as an apostolic exarchate in 1968 and became a diocese in 1977.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Ujjain was created as an apostolic exarchate in 1968 and became a diocese in 1977.

Province of Gandhinagar

The province consists of the civil State of Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gandhinagar was created in 2002. 

Premavatar Isu Mandir (which I think translates as Incarnation) Cathedral in Gandhinagar was built between 1985 and 1990.  The parish has about 900 members.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Ahmedabad was created as a Mission sui juris in 1934 and became a diocese in 1949.
• The Diocese of Baroda was created in 1966.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Rajkot was created in 1977.

Province of Raipur

The province consists of the civil State of Chhattisgarh.  The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Raipur began as an apostolic prefecture in 1964, became a diocese in 1973, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 2004. 

St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Raipur was built in 1984.

Both pictures are from a local blog.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Raigarh was created in 1951.
• The Diocese of Ambikapur was created in 1977.
• The Diocese of Jashpur was created in 2006.
• The Syro-Malabar Diocese of Jagdalpur was created as an apostolic exarchate in 1972 and became a diocese in 1977.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also jurisdictions below the level of a diocese.  These include missionary jurisdictions including apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, ordinariates, and Missions sui juris. 

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Latin or Roman rite.  Rite refers to liturgical practices, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual heritage.  Many Catholics belong to one of two dozen Eastern rite churches.  Eastern rite churches trace their heritage to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.  Eastern rite churches sometimes use different terminologies.  For example, a diocese might be called an eparchy and is led by an eparch.  A vicariate apostolic is called an exarchy (or apostolic exarchate) and is led by an exarch. 

South Asia-3 

This blog will discuss the Catholic Church in East Timor, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.

East Timor

The Portuguese colonized the island of Timor in the 16th Century.  Portugal ceded the western half of the Island to the Dutch in 1859 (and it is now part of Indonesia).  East Timor declared independence from Portugal in 1975, but was quickly invaded by Indonesian armed forces.  Resistance to the Indonesian invasion resulted in the deaths of between 100,000 and 250,000 people and widespread destruction of infrastructure.  With the help of Australian military forces, East Timor once again gained independence in 2002.  The Church played a strong role in promoting human rights during the Indonesian occupation and two Catholics, including a bishop, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their actions.  Pope John Paul II visited East Timor in 1989 which brought world attention to the suffering in East Timor.  

Almost 98 percent of East Timor’s 1.4 million people are Catholic.  Only about 20 percent of East Timorese were Catholic in 1975, but the Church gained many converts because of its strong stand against oppression.  

The Catholics are served by the ecclesiastic province of Dili.

Province of Dili

The province consists of East Timor.  The Diocese of Dili was established in 1940 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili in 2019.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili was built between 1984 and 1988 and can hold 2,000 people.  Pope John Paul II visited the Cathedral during his 1989 visit. 

The first picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Baucau was created in 1996.
• The Diocese of Maliana was created in 2010.

Malaysia

Various Muslim sultanates arose on the Malay Peninsula and on Borneo in the 14th Century.  The Portuguese in the 16th Century and the Dutch in the 17th Century established trading centers, but it was the British who colonized what is now Malaysia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  The British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula became independent in 1957 and in 1963 joined Singapore and the Borneo territories of Sabah and Sarawak to form the nation of Malaysia.  Singapore withdrew in 1965.

The Portuguese introduced Catholicism in 1511, but evangelization was limited until the late 18th Century.  At that point, Singapore became a center for missionary activity and effective evangelization of Sabah and Sarawak began in the late 19th Century.  

Malaysia has 33 million people and 61 percent are Muslim.  Another 20 percent are Buddhist and 6 percent are Hindu.  Christians account for 9 percent, of which 1.2 million are Catholic.  Catholics are served by one of three ecclesiastic provinces:  Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuching.

Province of Kuala Lumpur

The province consists of the mainland part of Malaysia.  The Diocese of Kuala Lumpur was established in 1955 and became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1972.

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Kuala Lumpur was built between 1954 and 1955.  The Cathedral has a whitewashed exterior with twin spires.  The marble altar was made in Italy and has the inscription “Behold the Lamb of God” in mosaic chips.  The stained glass windows feature Gospel scenes and were made in Paris.  The three church bells were installed in 1964.  See stjohnkl.com.my. 

The first picture is from the cathedral website and the second is from a local website.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Melaka-Johor was established as the Diocese of Malacca in 1558 and was demoted to the Apostolic Vicariate of Malacca-Singapore in 1841.  It once again became the Diocese of Malacca in 1888 before becoming an archdiocese in 1953.  It became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore in 1955.  In 1972, Singapore became an archdiocese and Malacca became a diocese.  It acquired its current name in 1985.
• The Diocese of Penang was established in 1955.

Province of Kuching

The province consists of the State of Sarawak in northern Borneo.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Sarawak was created in 1927 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Kuching in 1952.  This became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1976.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is in Kuching was built in 1969 and has an ironwood roof.  See stjosephkuching.org.

The first picture is from Flickr and the others are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Miri was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and was promoted to a diocese in 1976.
• The Diocese of Sibu was created in 1986.

Province of Kota Kinabalu

The province consists of the State of Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan in northern Borneo.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Labuan and Borneo was created in 1855 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Jesselton in 1952.  This became the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu in 1976 and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu in 2008.

Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kota Kinabalu was built between 1979 and 1981.  See sacredheartcathedralkk.org

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

The Province has two suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Keningau was created in 1992.
• The Diocese of Sandakan was created in 2007.

Papua New Guinea

Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited the island of New Guinea as early as the 16th Century, but Europeans were largely absent from New Guinea until the 19th Century.  The Dutch took control of the western half of the island and this is now part of Indonesia.  The eastern half was split between Germany and the United Kingdom in 1885.  The United Kingdom gave their portion to Australia in 1902 and Germany was forced to give its portion to Australia following the First World War.  Independence was gained in 1975 and the nation of Papua New Guinea was born.  Marists brought the Faith to what is now Papua New Guinea in 1844.

About 97 percent of Papua New Guinea’s 7.3 million people are Christian—70 percent Protestant and 27 percent Catholic.  Catholics are served by one of four ecclesiastic provinces:  Madang, Mount Hagen, Port Moresby, and Rabaul.

Province of Rabaul

The province consists of Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia was created in 1844 and became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Rabaul in 1966.  See www.archdioceseofrabaul.com.

Sacred Heart Cathedral is in Vunapope (Kokopo).

From YouTube

St. Francis Xavier Co-Cathedral in Rabaul was built in 1965 to replace a church destroyed during the Second World War.

From Panaramio.

The Province has three suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Bougainville was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1898, became an apostolic vicariate in 1930, and was promoted to a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Kavieng was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1957 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Kimbe was created in 2003.

Province of Port Moresby

The province consists of the Southern Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Vicariate of New Guinea was established in 1889 and this became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port Moresby in 1966.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is in Port Moresby and has a single tower.

Pictures are from Panaramio, TripAdvisor, and Wikipedia.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Alotau-Sideia was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1946, became an apostolic vicariate in 1956, and was promoted to a diocese in 1966.  It acquired its current name in 1975.
• The Diocese of Bereina was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Daru-Kiunga was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.  It acquired its current name in 1987.
• The Diocese of Kerema was created in 1971.

Province of Madang

The province consists of the Momase Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Prefecture of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land was created in 1896 and became the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern New Guinea in 1922.  This became the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madang in 1966.

Holy Spirit Cathedral is in Madang.

From a local newspaper.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Wewak was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1913, became and apostolic vicariate in 1931 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Aitape was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1952, became an apostolic vicariate in 1956, and a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Lae was created as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Vanimo was created as an apostolic prefecture in 1963 and became a diocese in 1966.

Province of Mount Hagen

The province consists of the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea.  The Apostolic Vicariate of Mount Hagen was established in 1959, became a diocese in 1966, and a metropolitan archdiocese in 1982.

Holy Trinity Cathedral in Mount Hagen was completed in 2017 and can hold 1,500 people. 

Both pictures are from a local Catholic newspaper.

The Province has four suffragan dioceses.

• The Diocese of Goroka was established in as an apostolic vicariate in 1959 and became a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Mendi was established as an apostolic prefecture in 1958, became an apostolic vicariate in 1965, and a diocese in 1966.
• The Diocese of Wabag was established in 1982.
• The Diocese of Kundiawa was established in 1982.

Definitions

The Catholic Church is mostly divided into ecclesiastical provinces—a province consists of a metropolitan archdiocese and one or more dioceses.  The province and the archdiocese are led by an archbishop.  Each of the dioceses is called a suffragan diocese and is led by a bishop.  Archbishops have some responsibilities for the province, but all bishops answer directly to the Pope.  There are also missionary jurisdictions below the level of a diocese and these include apostolic vicariates and apostolic prefectures.