By Matters India Reporter
Patna, November 26, 2019: More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the centenary celebrations of the Archdiocese of Patna, Bihar, at St. Michael’s High School grounds on November 29.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, and Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, are invited to the occasion.
About 50 bishops, hundreds of priests, nuns and other dignitaries are expected to attend the concluding ceremonies, Father Athonyswamy, diocesan youth director, told Matters India.
The-day long events include Mass and cultural programs performed by students from various parishes, schools and colleges of Patna Archdiocese, said the priest, Bihar state adviser of All India Catholic University Federation.
The year-long centenary celebrations were marked by several renewal programs for people.
On March 16, 1999, Pope John Paul II promoted the Diocese of Patna which was a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ranchi, into a new Archdiocese and appointed Jesuit Bishop Benedict J. Osta as its first archbishop who was installed on July 11, 1999.
Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Buxar, Muzaffarpur and Purnea are its suffragan dioceses.
Jesuit Archbishop William D’Souza is the Metropolitan head of Patna from October 1, 2007. His motto is to serve and not to be served.
Today the Archdiocese of Patna comprises the districts of Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Gaya, Jehanabad and Munger in Bihar (except Chakai, Jhajha, Jamui Sadar, Kharagpur and Soko Mission areas) with a population of over 80,000 Catholics in 35 parishes and stations under the care of 56 diocesan and 155 Religious priests, 500 Religious sisters and 50 Religious Brothers.