A. Catholic Population
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As of Dec. 31, 2005, Darjeeling diocese had 31,943 baptized Catholics, representing 1.39 percent of all 2, 300,000 people in the territory. The diocese had 36 parishes, 8 semi parishes and 3 mission stations plus 110 sub-stations without priests. |
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People in the Diocese
Baptized Catholics: 31,943, or 1.39%
Followers of other religions: 1. Hindus, 2. Buddhists, 3. Christians; 4. Muslims & Others
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B. Diocesan and Religious Priests
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Diocesan Priests: 65
Religious Priests: 56 (47 Indians, 9 foreigners)
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C. Religious Brothers , Sisters
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Religious Brothers: 17
Religious Sisters: 281 (277 Indians, 4 foreigners)
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D. Catechists
E. Seminaries, Houses of Formation (Click here for details)
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Minor seminary: 1
Houses of Formation: 3
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F. There are 36 parishes, 8 semi parishes, and 3 mission stations plus 110 sub-stations without priests in the diocese
Diocesan Activities and Organizations
A. Major Diocesan Commissions and Organizations (Click here for details)
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Family
Youth
Dialogue
Liturgy
Bible
Women
Communication
Holy Childhood
Vocation director
Diocesan Catholic Association (of Laity)
Catholic Association of Sikkim (of Laity of Sikkim state)
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B. Catholic Educational Institutions
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Schools |
| Primary & Secondary (1 - 8th grade) Schools |
62 |
| High (9 & 10th grade) Schools |
27 |
| Post-Secondary (11 & 12th grade) Schools |
18 |
| Post-secondary Schools |
2 |
| Colleges (2 for women only; 2 for men & women) |
4 |
| Colleges of Education (BA Ed.) |
2 |
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C. Catholic Social Welfare (Click here for details)
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| Loreto convent at Darjeeling, where Mother Teresa had gone to do her retreat, when the Lord told her to start her congregation, Missionaries of Charity |
Dispensaries: 26
Elderly homes (for women): 3
Elderly homes (for men): 1
AIDS hospices: 1
Orphanages: 2
School for Deaf & Dumb: 1
Youth hostels: 6
Hostels for school boys & girls: 26
Boys' hostel training in music by Jesuits: 1
Socio-economic centers, training centers: 2
Multi purpose social service centre: 1
Vocational Training Centre: 1
De-addiction centre 1:
Pastoral Centers: 2
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D. Social Communications
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Social communication centre: Father Alex Gurung
Address: Pastoral centre, 'Divya Vani', Darjeeling, W. Bengal, 734101 India
Phone: (+35) 4 - 2256453; 2258171
Diocesan newsletter: "Tea Leaves"
Family commission quarterly magazine: "San Marg"
Cultural center: A boys' hostel training in music by Jesuits
Address: Gandhi ashram, 6th mile bridge, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, W. Bengal, 734301 India
Phone: (+35) 52 - 276091
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| School for deaf and dumb children, run by Cluny Sisters at Kalimpong |
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| Jesuit's Gandhi Ashram school at Kalimpong, where the Jesuits give free schooling & hostel to poor students, with special music classes |
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Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes
A. Religious Institutes of Men
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Society of Jesus ~ S.J.
Salesians of Don Bosco ~ S.D.B.
Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales ~ M.S.F.S.
Congregation of Christian brothers ~ C.F.C.
Diocesan Auxiliary Brothers
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B. Religious Institutes of Women
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| Free school for poor children, run by Cluny Sisters at Kalimpong |
Apostolic Carmel ~ A.C.
Congregation of Jesus ~ CJ
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) ~ FMA
Daughters of the Cross (Liege) ~ FC
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto) (Irish branch) ~ IBVM
Missionaries of Charity ~ MC
Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians ~ MSMHC
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth ~ SCN
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross ~ SCSC
Sisters of Notre Dame ~ SND
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny ~ SJC
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| General Characteristics of the Diocese
History
The church first came to Darjeeling with the arrival of Irish Loreto Sisters in 1846, soon after opening the hill station of Darjeeling. The area was then under Patna diocese and was staffed mostly by Italian Capuchins. In 1886 with the establishment of Calcutta archdiocese, the areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Siliguri and the state of Sikkim were transferred to Calcutta archdiocese and were cared by the Belgian Jesuits. The Jesuit's St. Mary's Theologate at Kurseong, which had been started in 1889, contributed much to the church expansion. In 1971 the theologate had been transferred to Delhi. In 1947 the Jesuits of Upper Canada province came to assist the Belgian fathers. Gradually they took over and in 1956 it became an independent Jesuit region. On Oct. 14, 1997 the Region became a full-fledged Darjeeling Jesuit Province. The work in Kalimpong started in 1883, when the Fathers of the Foreign Mission of Paris settled down in Pedong with the hope of getting into Tibet. Fr. A. Desgodins, the founder of Pedong, was a pioneer missionary and a scholar of Tibetan.
In 1929 this area was separated from Tibet and erected as an independent mission within the ecclesial province of Calcutta. In 1931 Sikkim was added to it and the Prefecture Apostolic of Kalimpong-Sikkim came into existence, with Msgr Jules Douenels as its first Prefect Apostolic. In 1935 the French Fathers handed the area to the Canons Regular of St. Augustine of St. Maurice, Switzerland, and in 1937 Msgr. A. Gainer was appointed its new Prefect Apostolic 25 years later he handed the territory over to Bishop Eric Benjamin, who became the first bishop of the newly erected Darjeeling diocese. Darjeeling diocese was erected on Nov. 25, 1962
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| Pushpika, diocesan pastoral centre, Kalimpong |
The kingdom of Bhutan was separated from the diocese of Tezpur and included to Darjeeling Diocese on Jan. 21, 1975. After the death of Bishop Eric Benjamin on May 12, 1994, the See of Darjeeling remained vacant for 3 years. On Nov. 4, 1997 Pope John Paul II divided the diocese and established the new diocese of Bagdogra covering the sub division of Siliguri and part of Kurseong subdivision. On the same day Fr. Stephen Lepcha was appointed the second bishop of Darjeeling diocese.
The first bishop Eric Benjamin served the diocese from 1962-1994, he was from Tamang tribe.
Most Catholics are Nepalese of various tribes. The second highest number of the Catholics is Lepchas, one of the original tribes of the area, and they are animists and are open to Christianity. Most of them are Buddhists. Bishop Stephen Lepcha is from this community. About 20 priests are also from this community.
Third highest number of Catholics is from the Bhutiya and Sherpa tribal communities.
Kalimpong sub-division has many local vocations. 1/3 diocesan priests are Nepalese, 1/3 are Lepchas &1/3 are from the southern Mangalore diocese ( and two from Kerala State)
Patronesses of the diocese: Immaculate Conception & St. Teresa of Child Jesus
Since Nepali is the common language, liturgical services are mostly held in Nepali.
Buddhism being the state religion of Bhutan, priests and sisters had to leave that country some 20 years back. Since only a few Catholics are there, mostly Nepalese, no Christian activity is carried on there. They hope to have Christian presence there after the establishment of democracy, hopefully by 2008. Jesuit Father William Mackey died there. The Bhutan government has honored him with the title 'Son of Bhutan".
General characteristics
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| Jesuit's St. Joseph school, North point, Darjeeling |
In a land area of 46,021 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers the three hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling district of West Bengal: Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, besides the state of Sikkim and Bhutan.
The diocese is located in the sub Himalayan mountainous region. The area is the foothill of Himalaya. Sikkim is the highest Indian region.
Cities
In Darjeeling district: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik
In Sikkim State: Gangtok, Namchi, Jorethang, Mangan, Singtom and Rangpu
Sikkim state joined with India only in 1975. Then there was only one parish. Now there are 13 parishes and proposal has been made to create it a separate diocese.
Population
In Darjeeling diocese, the population is 2,300,000 at the end of 2005.
Various tribes of Nepalis, Lepchas, the Bhutiya and Sherpa tribals are living here.
Languages
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| Pope John XXIII diocesan minor seminary, Darjeeling |
The languages spoken in the diocesan territory are Hindi, Nepali, Bengali, Bhutanese (Dzongksha), Lepcha, Sikkimese, Tibetan, English.
Economy
In the Darjeeling, Kurseong sub-division: Tea, tourism, fruits and vegetables.
In the Kalimpong sub-division: tourism, agriculture (paddy, fruits).
In Sikkim state: tourism, agriculture, and fruits.
Most of the people are poor. Being not future-oriented, they live a day today life.
Major industries are tea, tourism, transport.
Agriculture: paddy, fruits, wheat, pulse, cardamom
Literacy
The literacy rate is 67%.
Darjeeling and Sikkim are beautiful regions, attracting foreign and Indian tourists, especially during March-June; September -December. Besides scenic beauty, the place has lovely lush woods, varieties of flowering plants, birds and animals. It is a world famous holiday hill resort. Kanchenjunga and Mount Everest could be viewed from here. Darjeeling tea is considered to be the best in the world. With 86 tea gardens, 25% of India's total tea is produced in Darjeeling district. There are many botanical gardens here. The famous toy train of Darjeeling is listed among the world heritage sites. Running through a beautiful landscape, it covers a distance of 83 kilometers.
Many Buddhist monasteries are in the region. The golf course at Senchal is the highest in the world. The three artificial lakes on a 2,487-meter-height hill attract many tourists. Kalimpong is noted for best flowers and orchids in the country.
St. Theresa church here is constructed entirely with wood. The picturesque Kurseong is noted for its secluded charm. The Jesuits' former Saint Mary's Theologate here had produced many world famous theologians. It had been later shifted to New Delhi.
< Last updated on: February 27, 2008 >
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