Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dhaka
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic
Metropolitan
Archdiocese
of Dhaka
is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in Bangladesh
. It was erected it as the Apostolic Vicariate
of Eastern Bengal by Pope Pius IX
in 1850, promoted to the rank of a diocese on September 1, 1886, and renamed as the Diocese of Dacca in 1887. It was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese
by Pope Pius XII
on July 15, 1950, with the suffragan sees
of Chittagong
, Dinajpur
, Khulna
, Mymensingh
, Rajshahi
, and Sylhet
. Pope John Paul II
renamed it as the Archdiocese of Dhaka on October 19, 1982.
The archdiocese's motherchurch
and thus seat of its archbishop is St. Mary's Cathedral
. As the only metropolitan in Bangladesh, it is also the primatial
see
of that country. The current Archbishop of Dhaka is His Excellency
Patrick D'Rozario
, formerly Bishop of Chittagong, having been appointed Coadjutor Archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI
on November 2010, and succeeded Archbishop Paulinus Costa
, CSC, in October 2011.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Archdiocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. It was erected it as the Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
of Eastern Bengal by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
in 1850, promoted to the rank of a diocese on September 1, 1886, and renamed as the Diocese of Dacca in 1887. It was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
on July 15, 1950, with the suffragan sees
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of Chittagong
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chittagong
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chittagong is a diocese located in the city of Chittagong in the Ecclesiastical province of Dhaka in Bangladesh. The Diocese of Chittagong comprises of the 17 Civil Districts of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachori, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur,...
, Dinajpur
Roman Catholic Diocese of Dinajpur
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dinajpur is a diocese located in Dinajpur District, Rajshahi Division, in the Ecclesiastical province of Dhaka in Bangladesh.-Leadership:* Bishops of Dinajpur ** Bishop Sebastian Tudu...
, Khulna
Roman Catholic Diocese of Khulna
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Khulna is a diocese located in the city of Khulna in the Ecclesiastical province of Dhaka in Bangladesh.-History:* January 3, 1952: Established as Diocese of Jessore* June 14, 1956: Renamed as Diocese of Khulna-Leadership:...
, Mymensingh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Mymensingh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mymensingh is a diocese located in the city of Mymensingh in the Ecclesiastical province of Dhaka in Bangladesh.-History:* May 15, 1987: Established as Diocese of Mymensingh from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka...
, Rajshahi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rajshahi
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rajshahi is a diocese located in the city of Rajshahi in the Ecclesiastical province of Dhaka in Bangladesh.-Leadership:* Bishops of Rajshahi ** Bishop Gervas Rozario...
, and Sylhet
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sylhet
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sylhet is a diocese in Bangladesh, and comprises the civil districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, and Maulvi Bazar...
. Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
renamed it as the Archdiocese of Dhaka on October 19, 1982.
The archdiocese's motherchurch
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
and thus seat of its archbishop is St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral, or St. Mary Cathedral or Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin, or other variations on the name, may refer to:-Canada:* St. Mary's Cathedral, Calgary* St. Mary's Cathedral, Kingston* St. Mary's Cathedral, Winnipeg-Ireland:...
. As the only metropolitan in Bangladesh, it is also the primatial
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of that country. The current Archbishop of Dhaka is His Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
Patrick D'Rozario
Patrick D'Rozario
Patrick D'Rozario is the Catholic Archbishop of the archdiocese of Dhaka, making him the highest ranked priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Bangladesh....
, formerly Bishop of Chittagong, having been appointed Coadjutor Archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on November 2010, and succeeded Archbishop Paulinus Costa
Paulinus Costa
Paulinus Costa was Archbishop of the archdiocese of Dhaka from 2005 until his retirement on October 22, 2011.-Career:Costa was ordained as a priest on 21 December, 1963...
, CSC, in October 2011.
List of Ordinaries of Dhaka
- Peter Dufal, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1860 - 1866) - Giordano Balsiper, OSBOrder of Saint BenedictThe Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(1878 - ?) - Augustin Louage, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1890 - 1894) - Peter Joseph Hurth, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1894 - 1909) - Frederick Linneborn, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1909 - 1915) - Amand-Théophile-Joseph Legrand, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1916 - 1929) - Timothy Joseph Crowley, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1929 - 1945) - Lawrence Leo Graner, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1947 - 1967) - Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSCCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
(1967 - 1977) - Michael Rozario (1977 - 2005)
- Paulinus CostaPaulinus CostaPaulinus Costa was Archbishop of the archdiocese of Dhaka from 2005 until his retirement on October 22, 2011.-Career:Costa was ordained as a priest on 21 December, 1963...
(2005 - 2011) - Patrick D'RozarioPatrick D'RozarioPatrick D'Rozario is the Catholic Archbishop of the archdiocese of Dhaka, making him the highest ranked priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Bangladesh....
(2011 - present)