Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi

Archdiocese of Ranchi Archidioecesis Ranchiensis रांची के सूबा
Saint Mary's Cathedral, on Dr Kamil Bulcke Rd, Ranchi
Location
Country	India
Ecclesiastical province	Ranchi
Statistics
Area	5,299 km2 (2,046 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2011) 2,912,111 135,744 (4.5%)
Parishes	35
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	25 May 1927
Cathedral	Cathedral of St Mary in Ranchi
Patron saint	St Francis Xavier
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop	Cardinal Telesphore Toppo
Auxiliary Bishops	Binay Kandulna
Vicar General	Binay Kandulna
Website
Website of the Archdiocese

The Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese (Latin: Archidioecesis Ranchiensis), with roots of activities tracing to more than 150 years, currently comprises the districts of Ranchi and Lohardaga of Jharkhand state, India. It was established by a decree of the Holy See, dated 25 May 1927, when it was separated from the Calcutta Archdiocese to form a new Diocese, with its Episcopal seat at Ranchi. In 1953 it was elevated to be an archdiocese. As declared on its website, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi "subscribes to ahimsa and satyagraha".

The first Belgian Jesuit to enter Chotanagpur was Fr Auguste Stockman. He traveled by bullock cart from Midnapur and after a difficult journey of a fortnight reached Chaibasa on November 25, 1868. His work among the Ho tribe did not yield results, so he moved towards Ranchi district in January 1875.

Other Belgian Jesuits came to Ranchi in 1877 to act as military chaplains to the troops at Doranda (Ranchi). As the prospects of evangelization among the tribals of Chotanagpur were bright, the first mission stations were opened among the Mundas. However, the real impetus came from Fr Constant Lievens, who arrived at Doranda on March 18, 1885. He is often called the Apostle of Chotanagpur. He left Ranchi on August 26, 1892, a broken man. He died at Leuven in Belgium on November 7, 1893. A century later on November 7, 1993 his mortal remains were re-interred in the Ranchi Cathedral. His Cause for Beatification was officially inaugurated at Moorslede, in the Diocese of Brugge Ursuline Sisters (Belgium) on March 15, 2001.