DARJEELING
The Catholic Church first came to Darjeeling with the arrival of the Irish Loreto Sisters on 10 October 1846, about a decade after the opening of the hill station of Darjeeling in 1835. Darjeeling was discovered in 1828 by Captain Lloyd and Mr. J.W. Grant and it had been acquired by the British as a gift from King Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835. The first missionaries to arrive in Darjeeling were: Mother Teresa Mons, Mother Mary de Chantel and two novices accompanied by Fr. John McGirr and an han girl. The area was then under the ecclesial jurisdiction of Bishop Athanasius Harian of Patna Diocese and was staffed by apuchin Fathers, who were mostly Italians Bistep Hartmann replaced Fr. John McGirr w Ignatius Perisco, OFM cap., and installen in June 1948 as the first Parish Priest of Darjeeling. On 16 January 1893, he was created Cardinal Priest of the title of St. Peter in Chains. In 1886, when the hierarchy was established in India, the areas comprising the present sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Siliguri were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Calcutta and came under the care of the Jesuits from Belgium.
The ‘Catholic Chaplain’ of Darjeeling resided at first in a bungalow erected in 1848 on the same spot as the actual spot of present-day Bishop’s House. The old building was pulled down in 1891 and in its stead a beautiful structure was built which is now the Bishop’s House of Darjeeling. It was for many years known as ‘The Presbytery’. It was indeed meant to be the summer residence of the Archbishop of Calcutta. In 1962 after the Diocese of Darjeeling was erected, it became its Bishop’s House.
For 37 years, from 1848 to 1885, the faithful used to attend Mass at the Loreto Convent chapel. It was only in 1885 that a separate chapel was erected for the parishioners and season visitors on the hillside, halfway between the actual Bishop’s House and actual St. Robert’s School (of 1948). In 1892, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Calcutta made an agreement with the then authorities of the Loreto Convent in Darjeeling to build a church on the land appertaining to and being portion of the Convent Location No. 2. Archbishop Paul Goethals, SJ laid the first stone on 8 December 1892, feast of the Immaculate Conception. It was built by Brother Eugene Rotsaert, SJ. The Deed of Declaration dated 26 January 1931of Mother Alice Dicher, the Mother Provincial of Loreto Convent in Calcutta and Mother Superior also of Darjeeling along with trustees of the properties of the Society of Nuns (of Loreto) confirms that the Church of Immaculate Conception (present Cathedral) was built out of the funds belonging to the said Archdiocese and was always been maintained, looked after and managed by the Calcutta Archdiocese. In 1962 when Darjeeling was erected as a new diocese the Church of the Immaculate Conception became the Cathedral of the diocese.
The first Jesuits arrived in Darjeeling in 1886 from Calcutta and began their mission at a temporary site called ‘Sunny Bank’ just above the present Bishop’s House. The Capuchin Friars then acquired the same property in 1877. They erected a school there and called it “The Catholic Boys’ School” with the intention of developing it into a degree college but for some reason the scheme had to be abandoned. When some candidates for priesthood were drafted into the school, it came to be known as St. Joseph Seminary. When the Belgian Jesuits took over from the Capuchins, in 1887, they had in view the establishment of a large college for European boys. They first made use of the existing premises of the old Sunny Bank and it is from there that they transferred themselves in 1892 to North Point, where St. Joseph College (now St. Joseph School) stands. Archbishop Paul Goethals,SJ, the Archbishop of Calcutta, came to Darjeeling to supervise personally the arrangements for the transfer of the school to North Point.
From 1896 to 1902, Sunny Bank was again a seminary, with a staff of two or three Jesuit professors and a few students. Only two were eventually ordained priests – Fr. Charles Grant and Fr. Cyril Mookharjee. But in 1903, Fr. Louis Bodson
ran at Sunny Bank a successful Middle School for Indian boys. In 1908 the building of the Sunny Bank was pulled down and in its place Archbishop Meuleman erected a building which was occupied by the Sister girls and ladies. From 1911 to 1915 the Sister of St. Joseph of Cluny who ran a boarding fo at Sunny Bank were also in charge of the to 1934, the building was rented out to a neighbouring Municipal Hospital. From 1915 layman who ran a well-known establishment, “The Park Hotel”.
In 1934, the parochial school for Indian boys which had been occupying some godowns transferred to Sunny Bank and this began to adjacent to “Archbishop’s House,” was develop into the actual St. Robert’s High School.
In 1889, a theologate for the Society of Jesus called St. Mary’s College was started a Kurseong. Up to the end of 1971, when it was shifted to New Delhi, the College contributed much to the missionary expansion work in the district. Memorable among the missionaries of that time are Fr. M. Wery who worked in Kurseong from 1932 to 1957, and is known today as the ‘Apostle of the Nepalese’, and Fr August Bossaerts who started the first station in the Terai at Gayaganga in 1933 where he died in 1945, after years of service to the tribal labourers brought from Chota Nagpur to work in the tea gardens in the plains.
On 31 January 1947, the English-speaking Jesuits of the Upper Canada Province came to the assistance of the Belgian Jesuits. They gradually took over the administration of the area, and in 1956 the Darjeeling Region of the Calcutta Province was created. On 14 October 1997 this Region became a Province of the Society of Jesus, Darjeeling.
KALIMPONG & SIKKIM
In Kalimpong, the Catholic missionary activity started in 1882, when the Fathers of the Foreign Missions Society of Paris (MEP) settled down in Pedong with the hope of getting into Tibet via the Chumbi Valley. The present Kalimpong, which was then known as “British B
hootan,” was attached to the Vicariate Apostolic of Tibet and renamed ‘South Tibet Mission’ by a decision of Pope Leo XIII, on 25 June 1883.The First Missionaries to arrive in Kalimpong were Fr. AugusteDesgodins and Fr. George Henry Mussot. Father A. Desgodinswas a Tibetan scholar and it was he who founded Pedong in November 1882.Thus, the Catholic Mission under the French Fathers was actually established in Kalimpong region on 11th. November 1882.
On 15 February 1929 Sikkim was also included in the South Tibet Mission for the formation of the Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkimand Kalimpong, by
separating it from Tibet. Thus the ‘Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim-Kalimpong’ came into existence with Msgr. Jules Douenel, MEP, as its first Apostolic Prefect. M
sgr. Douenel had a great interest in establishing a Catholic Mission in Kalimpong and he succeeded eventually. He built a church in 1931 and dedicated it to St. Teresa of the Child Jesus. Having always
had a deep faith and devotion to St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, he consecrated the whole Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim-Kalimpong to her. Therefore, the First Patro
n of the Diocese of Darjeeling is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the secondary patron is St. Teresa of Child Jesus.
Thus, the mission grew and became deeply rooted in Kalimpong region during the 45 years of hard mis
sionary efforts of the MEP Fathers. During these years the MEP Fathers, who sacrificed their life for the “South Tibet Mission’ were Fr. Auguste Desgodins, Fr. George Henry Mussot, Fr. Jean Marie Martin Harvagault, Fr. Louis Claude Saleur, Fr. Jules Douenel, Fr. Leon Martin Durel, Fr. Louis Marie Mariniaux, Fr. Francios Charles Henry Mon
nier, Fr. Gaston Gratuze, Fr. Joseph Alazard and Fr. Maurice Queguiner.
On 30 June 1937, the MEP Fathers handed over the Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim- Kalimpong to the Canon Regulars (CR)
of the Swiss Congregation of St. Maurice d’Agaune with Msgr. Aurelio Gianora, CR, as its new Apostolic Prefect. The era of the Swiss Mission lasted till the departure of the last Swiss missionary in 1997. Altogether eighteen CR Missionaries worked in the Mission under the Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim – Kalimpong. They were Fr. Aurelio Gianora, Fr. John Roger Fox, Fr. Martin Rey, Fr. Augustine Schyrr, Fr. Gustave Ruiller, Fr. Paul Thurler, Fr. Andre Butty, Fr. Patrick Vergeres, Fr. Robert Eigenmann, Fr. Jean Marie Brahier, Fr. Leon Eberhard, Fr. Emmanuel Gex Collet, Fr. Edouard Gressot, Fr. Jean Bernard Simon Vermont, Fr. Meinrad Pittet, Fr. Joseph Hofstetter, Fr. Peter Grobety and Fr. Hubert Rucksthul.
Twenty-five years after taking over the Mission from the MEP Fathers, in 1962, Monsignor Aurelio Gianora handed over the territory of Sikkim-Kalimpong to the newly erected Diocese of Darjeeling under the able leadership of Most Rev. Bishop Eric Benjamin.
The French Fathers made many attempts to establish Catholic Mission in Sikkim but were denied by the King of Sikkim. However, in the course of time, some educated Catholics from Darjeeling and Kalimpong were employed in Sikkim, and the Fathers started visiting them. Gradually, through their influence, the Catholic Mission found a foothold in Sikkim. The first Catholic Missionary to be sent to Sikkim by Msgr. Gianora, Prefect of Apostolic Prefecture of Sikkim-Kalimpong, was Fr. Leonard Molomoo. He started his mission in Pakyong in 1951. From there the mission spread to other parts of North-East Sikkim. In South-West Sikkim, it was Fr. Charles Mukhia who visiting from Singamari Parish started the first mission in Turuk in 1967. Fr. Victor Khawas was largely responsible for the subsequent evangelization endeavors in Sikkim South-West region.
In the year 1989 the Government of Sikkim donated a plot of land in Malbasey to the Diocese of Darjeeling with a request to start a good English medium school. Bishop Eric Benjamin entrusted the mission to the Salesians of Don Bosco. In 1992 the Government of Sikkim handed over Namchi Public School, Namchi to the Diocese of Darjeeling to run it. In the same year the Government of Sikkim donated a plot of land at Geyzing with a request to start an English medium school. Bishop Eric Benjamin entrusted that mission to the Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix (FMA). Fr. Victor Khawas was appointed their Chaplin in October 1992.
BHUTAN
The Kingdom of Bhutan was separated from the Diocese of Tezpur and annexed to the Diocese of Darjeeling in 1975 by a Decree of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples (Qua Facilius No.217/75, dated 20.01.1975).
DIOCESE
Bishop Eric was appointed Bishop of Darjeeling on 8 August 1962. He was consecrated Bishop on 7 October 1962 at St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta.
When Bishop Eric Benjamin started his journey as the Bishop of Darjeeling, he had only 11 diocesan priests at his disposal. They were Fr. Benjamin Stolke, Fr. Peter Ranger, Fr. Albert Lee, Fr. Leonard Molomoo, Fr. Charles Mukhia, Fr. Michael Rai, Fr. Louis Kuduppana, Fr. Anthony Namchu, Fr. Joseph Vayalil, Fr. Rene Singh and Fr. Marcus Yonjan. Today (2022) there are 94 diocesan priests working in various missions of the diocese. A few priests have retired from active priestly ministry due to age but some are still keeping themselves busy by engaging in limited ministry from the retired home. Besides the local vocations, missionaries from Kerala and Mangalore have also played a big role in the growth and development of the diocese. From Kerala there were nine vocations of whom two opted for Bagdogra diocese at the time of bifurcation. From Mangalore there were a total of thirty-three vocations of whom seven (besides Archbishop Thomas D’Souza) opted for Bagdogra Diocese at the time of bifurcation.
The following congregations of clerical religious have made huge contributions in the development of the Mission in the Diocese Darjeeling since its inception in 1962 namely, Society of Jesus (since 1886 of Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pil Salesians of Don Bosco (since 1936), Societ (1997-2006), Missionaries of St. Francis D Sales (MSFS- Fransalians 2002-2010) Friars Minor-Capuchins (since 2009) an Claretian Missionaries (since 2009), Order o Order of Discalced Carmelites (since 2022 Besides, Congregation of Christian Brothers have been engaged in education ministry since 1907.
In the field of pastoral work, education ministry, healthcare and social work the following congregations of women religious have tirelessly worked and have been working in the Diocese of Darjeeling and have made tremendous contributions in the development of the diocese. They are: Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary also known as Loreto Sisters (since 1846), Daughters of the Cross (since 1890), Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny (since 1926), Sisters of the Mercy of the Hol Cross-SCSC (since 1956), Missionaries of Charity-active (since 1964), Sisters of Notre Dame (since 1985), Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (since 1986), Congregation of Jesus (since 1991), Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix FMA (since 1991), Sisters of Apostolic Carme (since 1995), Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians MSMHC (since 1996), Carmelite Missionaries (since 2004), Missionaries of Charity-contemplative (2002-2022) and Sisters of St. Ann of Madras (since 2018).
The Darjeeling Diocese Catholic Association (DDCA), formed on 24 July 1966, Diocesan Nari Sangathan, Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) and the Holy Childhood Commission (earlier known as Crusaders) als have contributed tremendously in the grow and development of the diocese and in human formation.
The diocese celebrated the Silver Jubilee of establishment together with the Episcop Silver Jubilee of late Bishop Eric Benjamin o 7 October 1987 at St. Teresa School Hall Darjeeling.
Bishop Eric Benjamin breathed his last on 12 May 1994 at St. Teresa Church presbytery in Teresa School ground, Darjeeling on Saturday, 14 May 1994.
Rev. Fr. Thomas D’Souza (presently Archbishop of Calcutta) was elected the Administrator of the Diocese on 14 May 1994 and rendered yeomen service to the diocese till his appointment on 4 November 1997 as the Bishop of newly erected Diocese of Bagdogra.
Bishop Stephen Lepcha’s appointment as the Bishop of Darjeeling was announced on 4 November 1997 and he was consecrated as the Bishop of Darjeeling on 8 December 1997. He was installed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Darjeeling on 9 December 1997.
The Diocese celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its establishment over three days from 15-17 November 2012 at St. Joseph School, North Point.
The Diocese today has a total of 43 parishes,
20 Quasi Parishes and 9 Mission Stations.