Simla and Chandigarh (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 12 May 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Delhi
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 83,560 (32,275 Square Miles)
Description: Himachal Pradesh: Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Simla, Solan and Sirmour; Haryana: Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Jind, Hissar, Bhiwani, Fatehbad and Sirsa; Punjab: Barnala, Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bhatinda, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar; and the Union Territory of Chandigarh
Official Web Site: https://www.simlachandigarhdiocese.com
Mailing Address: Bishop's Office, Sector 19-A, Chandigarh-160019, India
Telephone: (0172)277.57.77
Fax: 278.16.30

Historical Details

Diocese of Simla
- Latin Name: Simlensis
- Split: 4 June 1959
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

John Burke † (4 Jun 1959 Appointed - 3 Aug 1966 Resigned)
Alfred Fernández † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 25 Jun 1970 Appointed, Bishop of Allahabad)
Gilbert Blaize Rego † (11 Mar 1971 Appointed - 10 Nov 1999 Retired)
Gerald John Mathias (22 Dec 1999 Appointed - 8 Nov 2007 Appointed, Bishop of Lucknow)
Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (10 Feb 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Simla
4 June 1959	Split	Archdiocese of Delhi and Simla	Archdiocese of Delhi Diocese of Simla (Ambala, Pattala, Karnal, and parts of Kangra (of Punjab); Mandi, Bilaspur, Mahasu, and Sirmur (or Sarmour) (of Himachal Pradesh))
19 October 1962	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Delhi (Districts Hissar and Bathinda (in the State of Punjab))	Diocese of Simla
Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh
12 May 1964	Name Changed	Diocese of Simla	Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh

1970 4,570 6,000,000 .1% 18 15 33 138 32 123 12 ap1971

1980 4,541 25,750,000 .0% 15 14 29 156 26 162 16 ap1981

1990 9,967 30,512,000 .0% 26 29 55 181 37 167 27 ap1991

1995 10,600 18,000,000 .1% 23 40 63 168 48 190 34 ap2000

2000 13,500 19,000,000 .1% 33 53 86 156 59 239 42 ap2001

2001 13,300 19,000,000 .1% 32 59 91 146 65 263 40 ap2002

2002 12,598 17,000,000 .1% 40 53 93 135 58 263 42 ap2003

2003 12,610 17,006,000 .1% 40 53 93 135 60 270 42 ap2004

2004 12,750 17,106,000 .1% 40 56 96 132 63 280 42 ap2005

2010 14,780 18,670,000 .1% 48 55 103 143 58 280 49 ap2011

2014 18,135 20,189,897 .1% 54 72 126 143 76 316 55 ap2015

2017 20,669 20,820,950 .1% 62 74 136 151 88 370 56 ap2018

2020 21,275 21,533,000 .1% 61 74 135 157 78 370 57 ap2021

2022 22,091 21,965,000 .1% 65 78 143 154 87 382 58 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh
1970	4,570	6,000,000	.1%	18	15	33	138	32	123	12	ap1971
1980	4,541	25,750,000	.0%	15	14	29	156	26	162	16	ap1981
1990	9,967	30,512,000	.0%	26	29	55	181	37	167	27	ap1991
1995	10,600	18,000,000	.1%	23	40	63	168	48	190	34	ap2000
2000	13,500	19,000,000	.1%	33	53	86	156	59	239	42	ap2001
2001	13,300	19,000,000	.1%	32	59	91	146	65	263	40	ap2002
2002	12,598	17,000,000	.1%	40	53	93	135	58	263	42	ap2003
2003	12,610	17,006,000	.1%	40	53	93	135	60	270	42	ap2004
2004	12,750	17,106,000	.1%	40	56	96	132	63	280	42	ap2005
2010	14,780	18,670,000	.1%	48	55	103	143	58	280	49	ap2011
2014	18,135	20,189,897	.1%	54	72	126	143	76	316	55	ap2015
2017	20,669	20,820,950	.1%	62	74	136	151	88	370	56	ap2018
2020	21,275	21,533,000	.1%	61	74	135	157	78	370	57	ap2021
2022	22,091	21,965,000	.1%	65	78	143	154	87	382	58	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Ignatius Loyola Ivan Mascarenhas (Bishop: 10 Feb 2009 - )
Gerald John Mathias (Bishop: 22 Dec 1999 to 8 Nov 2007)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John Burke † (Bishop: 4 Jun 1959 to 3 Aug 1966)
Alfred Fernández † (Bishop: 13 Apr 1967 to 25 Jun 1970)
Gilbert Blaize Rego † (Bishop: 11 Mar 1971 to 10 Nov 1999)

Source(s)

Diocese of Simla
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 653
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 884, to Page 886
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 868
Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 56, Page 467

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.7, 20 Apr 2024; Data: 19 May 2024

✠

Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh

Dioecesis Simlensis et Chandigarhensis